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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2026)

Fourier transform infrared analysis and total quantitative estimation of major secondary metabolites in leaf and bark of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13574
Submitted
7 January 2026
Published
05-05-2026 — Updated on 13-05-2026
Versions

Abstract

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. is a medicinal plant widely used for treating inflammatory, hepatic, febrile and arthritic disorders. Quantitative evaluation of phytochemical composition in its leaves and bark across solvents of varying polarity remains limited. The present study aimed to comprehensively profile and quantify major phytochemical constituents of N. arbor-tristis leaves and bark using spectrophotometric assays and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Plant materials were extracted using solvents of varying polarity, including petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and methanol and evaluated for phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids and tannins. Quantitative analysis revealed pronounced solvent- and tissue-specific variations, with polar solvents exhibiting significantly higher extraction efficiency. Bark extracts demonstrated superior phytochemical enrichment compared to leaf extracts, particularly in ethanol and ethyl acetate, which recorded the highest phenolic and tannin contents (145.23 ± 1.44 and 145.42 ± 0.43 mg TAE g-1, respectively). Flavonoid content was also markedly higher in bark extracts, notably in ethanol (124.48 ± 0.34 mg QE g-1) and methanol (109.44 ± 0.24 mg QE g-1). Alkaloid content peaked in methanolic bark extract (13.21 ± 1.12 mg AE g-1), whereas non-polar petroleum ether extracts yielded minimal phytochemical recovery. The FTIR spectral analysis corroborated these findings by identifying characteristic functional groups corresponding to phenols, flavonoids, glycosides and other bioactive constituents. Overall, the study confirms that polar solvent bark extracts of N. arbor-tristis are particularly rich in bioactive phytochemicals, supporting its ethnomedicinal significance and potential for future pharmacological development.

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