Bioactive constituents and therapeutic potential of Ajuga integrifolia Buch.- Ham leaves: A study on antioxidant and antibacterial properties

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and antibacterial properties of Ajuga integrifolia Buch.-Ham leaf extracts. The extracts were obtained using three solvents: methanol (AIM), hexane (AIH), and water (AIW), and their biological activities were assessed. Phytochemical analysis was conducted using FTIR and GC-MS revealing the presence of bioactive compounds such as tannins, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Among the extracts, the methanol extract exhibited the highest tannin content and antioxidant activity, as confirmed by the FRAP assay. Furthermore, the methanol extract showed the highest scavenging activity (63.40 ± 0.34%), with the lowest IC50 value (197.33 µg/mL) ir the ABTS assay, indicating its potent free radical neutralizing ability. In terms of antibacterial activity, the methanol extracl displayed the largest zone of inhibition (ZOI) and the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against ß-lactam- resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and chloramphenicol-resistant Bacillus subtilis. These results suggest that Ajuga integrifolia leaf extracts, particularly the methanol extract, possess promising antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. The plant’s potential to combat oxidative stress, bacterial infections makes it a valuable candidate for the development of natural phytopharmaceutical agents, supporting its use in traditional medicine and offering new avenues for therapeutic applications,