PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF NEPENTHES PITCHER PLANT EXTRACT: ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIMICROBIAL, AND BIOPOLYMER APPLICATIONS

Phytochemical, antioxidant, antibacterial, and biopolymer properties of Nepenthes extracts were investigated. Extracts obtained via Soxhlet extraction with petroleum ether and ethanol were processed by lyophilization and rotary evaporation. Screening identified bioactive compounds, including proteins, sugars, terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, indicating potential therapeutic applications. FTIR spectroscopy revealed hydroxyl, methyl, aromatic, and alkane functional groups. Antioxidant activity in terms of DPPH radical scavenging was shown dose-dependent manner. The highest inhibition was observed in NP extract (75% at 100 µg/mL) as compared to ascorbic acid (51.32%), indicating the extract may have strong free radicals’ neutralization activity. Comparison of GC-MS analysis of ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Nepenthes pitcher showed existence of 15 compounds including alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids were correlated with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Some of the solvents such as N,N-Dimethylacetamide that aid biopolymer extraction processes were also confirmed the constituents and capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin in this extract raised usage worth to field associated with pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic usage. Antibacterial activity of resin at zones of inhibition was significant, especially against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus (18 mm zones via agar well diffusion method). Ethanol was the most effective solvent, yielding 45 g/1000 mL of biopolymers from Nepenthes pitcher extracts, highlighting their potential for pharmaceutical, antimicrobial, and biodegradable polymer applications.

Keywords: Nepenthes pitchers, Phytochemical, Antimicrobial activity, Antioxidant, Biopolymer