BIOASSAY-GUIDED PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF ACTIVE FRACTION OF CUSCUTA REFLEXA GROWN ON CASSIA FISTULA BY LC-MS

Abstract

The quest for effective antibiotics has necessitated a search for new antimicrobial substance from other source including screening of medicinal plants for antibacterial activity and phytochemical analysis for finding potential compounds for therapeutic uses. This study was aimed to elucidate the antibacterial compounds present in active fraction of Cuscuta reflexa parasite. Crude ethyl acetate extract was subjected to column chromatography; fractions obtained were screened for antibacterial activity using disc diffusion method. Most potential fraction-8 was analyzed by LC-MS. Out of many peaks obtained in chromatogram five compounds were analyzed from the mass spectra. 2,3-dimethyl quinoxaline, quercetin, 2-(3.4-dimethoxybenzylidene)-6-methoxy-3(2H)benzofuranone, 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)5,6,7-trimethoxy-4-chromenone and 2-(2-acetoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)3-methoxy-chromen-4-one were identified in active fraction of Cuscuta reflexa. Thus it was concluded that antibacterial activity of fraction-8 was due to the presence of derivatives of quinoxalin, quercetin, and chromenones.