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May 11, 2026Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology amp Research0 citationsOpen Access

Bioactive potential of Rhododendron lowndesii: Extraction, antioxidant analysis, antimicrobial assay, and Liquid Chromatography-mass Spectrometry profiling

ALAnup LuitelKathmandu University RSRajan ShresthaPokhara University LPLalit Mohan PantKathmandu University

Key Points

This study aims to evaluate the phytochemical composition and bioactivities of Rhododendron lowndesii extract.
Extracted aerial parts using methanol maceration, yielding 31.50% ± 0.92%.
Conducted qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses to identify compounds.
Performed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity assays using DPPH and disc diffusion methods.
Demonstrated strong antioxidant activity with DPPH IC50 of 19.46 ± 1.85 µg/mL and ABST IC50 of 13.4 ± 0.20 µg/mL.
Showed significant antibacterial effects against Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC: 312.5–1250 µg/mL).
Identified bioactive compounds such as zapotin and cepharanthine through LC-MS analysis.

Abstract

Rhododendron lowndesii Davidian is an endemic medicinal plant of Nepal found in an altitude range of 3000–4100 m. This study investigates the phytochemical composition and bioactivities of its methanolic extract. The aerial part of the plant was extracted through methanol maceration to achieve 31.50% ± 0.92% yield. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, steroids, terpenoids, coumarins, and carbohydrates, with a total phenolic content of 175.63 ± 1.37 mg GAE/g and total flavonoid content (TFC) of 1090.36 ± 2.29 mgQE/g. Antioxidant activity assay of the extract suggested its strong radical scavenging activity through DPPH (IC 50 :19.46 ± 1.85 µg/mL) and ABST is 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays (IC 50: 13.4 ± 0.20 µg/mL). Antibacterial activity as determined by the disc diffusion method, showed significant effect against Bacillus subtilis , Enterococcus faecalis , and Staphylococcus aureus (minimum inhibitory concentration: 312.5–1250 µg/mL) but limited efficacy against Salmonella enterica . High-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry identified pharmacologically significant compounds, including zapotin and cepharanthine. These findings suggest that R. lowndesii has rich phytochemical profile and bioactivity; this supports its potential as a medicinal plant and need of its pharmacological research.

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