Phytochemical, pharmacological and GC-MS characterization of the lipophilic fraction of Monotheca buxifolia

Monotheca buxifolia [(Falc.) A. DC.] indigenous to northern Pakistan is a broad-leaved evergreen traditional plant of pharmacological versatility. The present investigation focused on evaluating the phytochemistry, nutritional profile, analgesic activity, cytotoxicity and GC-MS profile of M. buxifolia. The result showed aerial parts of M. buxifolia had high content of carbohydrate and protein, along with sufficient amounts of macro and micronutrients. The lipophilic n-hexane fraction of M. buxifolia exhibited the presence of saponins (29.30%), flavonoids (18%) and phenols (0.46 mg GAE/100 g). Analgesic activity of lipophilic fraction was equivalent to standard drug (Aspirin) as determined by the tail flick method. The F1 (oily liquid) of lipophilic fraction showed significant cytotoxicity against lung adenocarcinoma (A549) and liver (HepG2) cell lines). GC-MS profiling identified cis-vaccenic acid followed by n-hexadecanoic acid and hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester as major bioactive compounds in the lipophilic oily sub-fraction of M. buxifolia. These results support the use of oily sub-fraction of M. buxifolia as an effective and safe candidate for treatment of cancer cell lines.