Abstract

Aims: The present study aims to investigate chemical composition and biological activities of Pinus roxburghii collected from Kavre district of Nepal.
Material and Methods: Phytochemical screening, antibacterial activities and antioxidant activities were measured. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content was determined using the spectrophotometric analysis. Chemical composition was carried out using GC-MS analysis.
Results: Phytochemical analysis reveals the presence of interesting metabolites like cardiac glycosides, saponin, protein, quinone, sterols, tannin and terpenoids. Highest total phenolic content and total flavonoid content was observed in bark crude methanol extract. Result further revealed that bark methanol extract showed the highest antioxidant activity. Furthermore, methanol and acetone extract of cone, bark and needle showed range of in-vitro antibacterial activity against gram positive and gram negative pathogens. Gas chromatography mass spectroscopy analysis of crude acetone extract of bark revealed the presence of 14 different compounds. The major chemical constituents identified in the bark extract are 1,8 cineole, linalool, beta-thujone, chrysantheone, camphor and terpinen-4-ol.
Conclusions: This study showed that among that needle, cone and bark of Pinus roxburghii as a huge source of biological active metabolites. Furthermore, bark extract revealed the presence of diverse chemical constituent.

Key words: Pinus roxburghii, phytochemical screening, total phenol content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activities and GC-MS