Chemical, insecticidal, antioxidant, and phytochemical Assessment of Thorn Apple (Datura metel L.) leaf extract from subtropical climate

Abstract

Background and aimDatura metel L. is a medicinal plant with the documented bioactivities, but its phytochemical profile and dual antioxidant/insecticidal potential remain underexplored, particularly regarding solvent extraction efficacy. This study aimed to (1) characterize the chemical composition of D. metel leaf extracts using ethanol, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, hexane, and distilled water; (2) evaluate their antioxidant activity via DPPH assay; and (3) assess insecticidal effects against cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae).Experimental approachPhytochemical screening was conducted to identify alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic, and glycosides. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis characterized the major compounds, while antioxidant activity was measured via DPPH free radical-scavenging assay. Insecticidal efficacy was tested using residual and contact bioassays at varying concentrations (12.5, 25, 50, and 200 mu gmL-1).Key findingsGC-MS identified four major compounds, including 11H-pyrido[3 ',2':4,5]imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazin-11-one (29.76%), a heterocyclic compound with the reported insecticidal/anti-inflammatory properties, and didodecanol phthalate (11.73%), a plasticizer with antimicrobial activity. The aqueous extract showed the highest phenolic content (75.03 mg GAE g-1), while ethyl acetate yielded the highest flavonoids (99.33 mg QE g-1). All extracts exhibited potent antioxidant activity (DPPH inhibition: 63.91-81.59%). Insecticidal assays revealed dose-dependent aphid mortality, peaking at 81.66% (contact) and 73.33% (residual) at 200 mg mL-1 after 48h.ConclusionsThe study highlights D. metel's dual bioactivity, bridging a critical gap in solvent-specific efficacy for agrochemical and pharmaceutical applications.