IN-VITRO PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF VARIOUS PARTS OF COUROUPITA GUIANENSIS

The discovery of drug-resistant microbial species has intensified the search for plant-based therapeutic alternatives to synthetic antimicrobial compounds. Over the past few decades, the traditionally used medicinal plant Couroupita guianensis Aubl has been reported for its diverse therapeutic actions. This work highlighted the antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties of leaves, flowers, and fruits using successive solvent extractions and in vitro assay methods. By using solvent extraction, the powdered extracts were prepared and tested for phytochemical screening. These results confirm the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, phenols, and saponins. Antibacterial and antifungal activitieswereperformed using the agar well diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella enterica, with extracts showing concentration-dependent inhibition zones. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using the in vitro well plate method, antifungal activity by the well diffusion method, antioxidant activity by the DPPH and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays, anti-inflammatory activity by the in vitro HRBC membrane stabilization method, and anti-arthritic activity by the protein denaturation method. The pharmacological results conclude that aqueous extracts showed less activity than chloroform extracts. The antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH and H2O2 scavenging assays, and all plant extracts showed significant activity. These results support that C. guianensisis a valuable source for a natural therapeutic candidate.