2025, Vol. 13, Issue 6, Part B

author(s)
Mayur S Jadhav, Sobiyanaz A Momin, Ankit Goswami and Rajaram V Gurav

abstract
The medicinal properties of orchids are less explored due to the threat of overexploitation, but they are attracting significant attention from the scientific community recently. The north-eastern Himalayan region of India is a well-known orchid hotspot, accounting for two-thirds of the country's total orchid species. The medicinal potential of plants largely depends on the complex physiology and ecology of it and the diverse array of secondary metabolites it produces. Comprehensive identification and quantification of these metabolites are therefore essential for understanding and utilising a plant’s therapeutic potential. Eulophia explanata Lindl. an endemic terrestrial orchid known for its ecological sensitivity and traditional medicinal relevance remains insufficiently explored for its phytochemical composition. In the present study, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical evaluations were carried out on the different extracts of E. explanata. Standard phytochemical assays-including total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant assays such as DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical scavenging (HRSC)-were performed to assess the extract’s antioxidant capacity. Additionally, mineral composition was quantified to determine the nutritional and elemental profile of the species. Advanced LC-MS analysis provided detailed chemical profiling, confirming the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, and a range of bioactive constituents, including alkaloids, antibiotics, and toxin-related metabolites. Overall, the integrated phytochemical assessment and UPLC Q-TOF characterization highlight E. explanata as a valuable source of diverse secondary metabolites with significant pharmacological potential.