IN-SILICO VIRTUAL SCREENING AND COMPARATIVE SOLVENT EXTRACTION STUDIES OF ADIANTUM RADDIANUM C. PRESL FOR ENHANCING PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

The present study was investigated for its phytochemical composition, potential bioactivity through in silico drug design, and in vitro pharmacological evaluation of Adiantum raddianum, a medicinal pteridophyte known for its therapeutic potential. The study aimed to evaluate its phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential through experimental and anti-inflammatory activity through computational approaches. Fresh plant material of Adiantum raddianum was collected, authenticated, dried, and subjected to Soxhlet extraction using a n-hexane, chloroform and ethanol solvent system. The extract was standardized through preliminary phytochemical screening, which revealed the presence of important secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenolic compounds, and carbohydrates, all of which are known to contribute to antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay, with ascorbic acid used as the standard reference. The ethanolic plant extract exhibited significant radical scavenging activity, showing a comparable effect to that of ascorbic acid, indicating strong antioxidant potential. In additional, molecular docking studies were carried out using an appropriate target protein associated to inflammation indicating significant binding affinities. The docking analysis aimed to identify compounds with superior binding affinity. A compound showing a higher docking score than the standard was selected, isolated, and further evaluated for its anti-inflammatory activity. The results suggest that the ethanolic plant extract of Adiantum raddianum possesses potent antioxidant properties. This highlights its potential as a natural source of antioxidant agents and supports further research for its application in the development of novel therapeutic compounds.

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