JOURNAL OF CHILEAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

Vol 70 No 1 (2025): Journal of The Chilean Chemical Society
Original Research Papers

SCREENING OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM Megacarpaea polyandra BENTH ROOT: A TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANT OF THE HIMALAYAS

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  • Imtiaz Bashir,
  • Shabir Ijaz,
  • Raheem Shahzad,
  • Abid Khan,
  • Najeeb Ullah,
  • Majid Alhomrani,
  • Walaa F Alsanie,
  • Abdulhakeem S Alamri
Imtiaz Bashir
Department of Horticulture, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, Pakistan
Shabir Ijaz
Center for Plant Conservation, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
Raheem Shahzad
Department of Horticulture, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, Pakistan
Abid Khan
Department of Horticulture, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, Pakistan
Najeeb Ullah
Pakistan council of scientific and industrial research
Majid Alhomrani
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, The faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Walaa F Alsanie
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, The faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulhakeem S Alamri
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, The faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Published September 5, 2025
Keywords
  • Phytochemicals,
  • Bioactive compounds,
  • GC-MS analysis,
  • Brassicaceae,
  • Megacarpaea polyandra
How to Cite
Bashir, I., Ijaz, S., Shahzad, R., Khan, A., Najeeb Ullah, Alhomrani, M., Alsanie, W. F., & Alamri, A. S. (2025). SCREENING OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM Megacarpaea polyandra BENTH ROOT: A TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANT OF THE HIMALAYAS. Journal of the Chilean Chemical Society, 70(1), 6268-6279. Retrieved from https://www.jcchems.com/index.php/JCCHEMS/article/view/2895

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Abstract

Megacarpaea polyandra Benth belonging to the Brassicaceae family is a medicinal plant found in alpine meadows and open forests between 3000-4300 meters in E. Asia-Himalayas. Traditionally, the plant has been used to treat various illnesses, including fever, diarrhea, asthma, and gastrointestinal problems. The root is used for relieving stomach aches, pneumonia, and fever. This study aimed to apply gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy analysis (GC-MS) to analyze the phytochemical components present in M. polyandra root. In the current study, this plant has been worked for the first time in terms of chemicals. The ethanolic root extract of the plant derived 207 phytochemicals. Of them, 47 were recorded as highly bioactive, among the recorded bioactive chemicals some compounds, viz furaneol;  catechol; 2H-Imidazole-2-thione, 1,3-dihydro-1-methyl; undecanoic acid; n-Hexadecanoic acid;  heptadecanoic acid; oleic Acid; Pyridine-4-carboxylic acid, 2-amino-3-cyano-5,6-dimethyl-, ethyl;  .beta.-Sitosterol and pilocarpine  have several biological properties. This includes antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, cure nervous system disorders, blood pressure regulators, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory qualities.  The chemicals were identified by interpreting the mass spectra and comparing their peak area and retention time with those in the literature. According to the current study's findings and conclusions, plant roots may be a useful resource for the development of herbal drugs due to the presence of various bioactive molecules responsible for curing the above-mentioned illnesses. The use of plant roots to treat a variety of illnesses with fewer adverse effects is justified by the existence of bioactive chemicals, which also suggests that the plant is of medicinal relevance. However, further research is required to fully understand its toxicity profile and bioactivity and clarify its vast potential for pharmacological application.

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