Abstract:
Phytoconstituents are being emphasized as chemotherapeutic agents, as well as probable anticancer agents. The
purpose of the present research was to assess the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties of
crude ethanolic extracts and bioactive fractions of Adiantum venustum D. Don collected from three sites in
Himachal Pradesh, India. The bioactive phytoconstituents were examined qualitatively and quantitatively in
crude ethanolic extracts and fractions of all sites, and biological activities were analyzed. The potential presence
of terpenoids, saponins, tannins, phenols, and flavonoids was examined, and it came to light that BF-II [n-butanol
fraction of Site-II (2000 m altitude)] had a significantly higher phytochemical concentration. Additionally, the
crude ethanolic extracts and fractions were examined for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and BF-II
was found to have potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, as verified by the IC50 values (lowest
half inhibitory concentration) in the DPPH (57.86 ± 0.72 μg/mL), reducing power assay (45.20 ± 0.72 μg/mL),
FRAP (73.12 ± 0.23 μM Fe equivalent), BSA (56.76 ± 0.25 μg/mL), and EAA (EAA59.84 ± 0.13 μg/mL).
Following that, the anticancer potential was investigated further using the MTT assay on the HeLa cell line, MTT
assay revealed that BF-II possesses significantly higher anticancer potential. Furthermore, the dominant crude
ethanolic extract and fraction were further investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, and highperformance
thin layer chromatography techniques from the selected plant. Overall, the study suggests that the
n-butanol fraction of A. venustum possesses significantly higher therapeutic value but is still not explored to the
extent of its potential.
