Isolation, Characterization and Utilization of Secondary Metabolites from Ehretia Acuminata: Involve Exploring Bioactive Compounds for Pharmaceutical and Industrial Applications
Abstract
Ehretia acuminata, a member of the Boraginaceae family, is a wild tree native to Asia, Africa, Australia, and North America, commonly referred to as Koda. The leaves and bark of E. acuminata have a rich history of utilization in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, where they have been employed to address various health concerns, including fever, oral sores, dysentery, and numerous other ailments. Column chromatography was employed to isolate phytoconstituents from this remarkable plant to uncover its pharmacological potential. Notably, the ethyl acetate extract derived from its leaves and the ethanol extract from its bark exhibited the most promising profiles regarding diverse biological activities. The isolated compounds were characterized through a comprehensive analysis involving ultraviolet-visible (UV), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and mass spectrometry (MS) techniques. The resulting spectral data unequivocally revealed the identities of the compounds as 3,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone (85mg), 3-Phenylprop-2-enoic acid (65mg), and 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid (62mg). Significantly, these phytoconstituents were isolated from the Ehretia acuminata plant for the first time. Among these compounds, 3,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone demonstrated outstanding antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, while 3-Phenylprop-2-enoic acid and 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid exhibited substantial potential in the realms of antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and antimicrobial activities. This groundbreaking research underscores the therapeutic potential of Ehretia acuminata, shedding light on its valuable contributions to traditional medicine and modern pharmacology.