MEDICINAL AND HEALTH-PROMOTING POTENTIAL OF SPERGULA PENTANDRA (CARYOPHYLLACEAE): PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING, ANTIMICROBIAL EVALUATION, AND SUSTAINABLE THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Spergula pentandra has been historically used for medicinal purposes in North-west Pakistan. Due to the importance of the plant, it was crucial to analyze, recognize, and both quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the physiochemical and phytochemical components (anthraquinones, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids, saponins, phenols, and tannins) it contains, along with their antimicrobial activities. Phytochemical examination of plant samples showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, anthraquinones, glycosides, and saponins, though tannins are absent. The results indicated antibacterial activity at varying degrees against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The specified species has shown quite promising results against the tested bacterial and fungal strains. Crude hexane extract of Spergula pentandra has showed good antifungal activity and found active against both the Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigates with a diameter of zone of inhibition (6 and 5 mm) used in the study while aqueous fraction was inactive against both A. niger and A. fumigates respectively.