Quantitative phytochemical profile, cholinesterase enzyme inhibition assay, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Sarcococca saligna

Aqueous methanol extracts of Sarcococca saligna leaves and roots were used in this work to explore its phytochemical contents, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition and antibacterial activities. Total phenolic contents were found to be in higher concentrations then total flavonoids contents in aqueous methanolic extracts of leaves. Antioxidant activity was performed using DPPH radical scavenging assay. In our findings both leaves and roots extracts were found to show substantial antioxidant potential. Aqueous methanolic extracts of both the leaves and roots gave significant inhibition against butyryl cholinesterase whereas against acetyl cholinesterase extracts of roots gave significant inhibition. The results were compared with the standard drug Eserine. The aqueous methanolic extract of leaves, roots and crude saponins isolated from leaf extracts gave moderate to significant antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial strains using agar disc diffusion method. According to the conclusions, S. saligna possesses significant antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and antibacterial activities. Hence it is assumed that S. saligna has the potential to be used in the discovery and development of new bioactive compounds.