Phytochemical investigation and in vitro urease inhibitory screening of various extracts of Bauhinia variegate stem

Abstract

Natural products are still a good source for the identification of bioactive compounds that have great therapeutic potential. Phytochemical profile and urease inhibitory activity of fractions of Bauhinia variegata flowers through various solvents were examined systematically in this paper. N-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and butanol were used as successive solvents to extract and fractionate the stem material. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of a wide range of secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids, tannins, steroids, fatty acids, and reducing sugars, especially in the methanol and butanol fractions. The jack bean urease method was used to carry out the urease inhibitory assay using thiourea as the reference standard. Each of the fractions exhibited significant dose-dependent urease inhibition, with the largest exhibited being butanol (90.54% inhibition; IC 50 = 31.02-1.65 5g/mL), then methanol (77.49% inhibition; IC₅₀ = 45.03 ± 1.40 µg/mL) and ethyl acetate (65.09% inhibition; IC₅₀= 57.72 ± 1.34 µg/mL). Such results indicate that polar phytoconstituents like flavonoids and tannins are most likely behind the activity. These findings not only confirm the traditional application of B. variegata in the management of gastrointestinal disorders but the findings also draw our attention to the potential of B. variegata as a source of natural urease inhibitors, which may be important in the treatment of urease-related conditions, including peptic ulcers, kidney stones, and Helicobacter pylori infections. Further isolation and characterization of active constituents is justified in order to explain their modes of action and therapeutic potential. The paper contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by encouraging plant-based, environmentally friendly solutions to drug discovery and human wellness.