Phytochemical Characterisation (GC-MS and FTIR) and Experimental Validation of the Cardioprotective Potential of Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC

Background: Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC. is an indigenous therapeutic plant distributed throughout India and used in ethnomedicine. The objective of this study was to characterise the phytochemical constituents of B. sensitivum and to evaluate its cardioprotective potential. Methods: Shade-dried B. sensitivum was extracted with ethanol, methanol and water. Phytoconstituents were quantified spectrophotometrically; functional groups were characterised by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and the methanolic extract was profiled by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Cardioprotective activity (150 and 300 mg/kg body weight) was assessed in a doxorubicin-induced myocardial-injury model in Wistar rats by serum HDL-C and cTnI estimation and cardiac histopathology. Result: The ethanolic extract showed the highest levels of bioactive compounds - protein (360 mg/100 g), total phenolics (276 mg/100 g) and cardiac glycosides (2.2 mg/100 g) - compared with methanolic (310, 236 and 0.7 mg/100 g) and aqueous (230, 68 and 0.15 mg/100 g) extracts (p less than 0.05). FTIR identified the presence of phenolic and amide-associated functional groups. GC-MS profiling identified propanamide, 3-bromo-N-(4-bromo-2-chlorophenyl) (8.93% peak area), with indole components. In the doxorubicin model, toxic-control animals showed a significant fall in HDL-C (23.85±0.95 mg/dL) relative to normal controls (40.21±0.90 mg/dL; p less than 0.0001); treatment markedly restored HDL-C to 36.15±0.85 and 35.85±0.85 mg/dL, respectively (p less than 0.05). Histopathology revealed reduced myocardial necrosis in treated groups. Pre-treatment of Hydro alcoholic extract of Biophytum sensitivum (150 mg/kg/day and 300 mg/kg P.O) brought down the DOX induced elevation in cTn I level, reflecting the reduced membranous damage.