ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants are a therapeutic resource for phytomedicine, which are mainly used by the traditional population of the world specifically for the health care. Worldwide interest in the use of medicinal plants is now increasing, the beneficial effects of the plant-based medicines and their products are being rediscovered. One such essential plant product which can be used as a phytomedicine are the sprouts of Cocosnucifera L. On germination of the coconut, the basal part of the embryo, which is embedded in the solid endosperm near the germinating pore, enlarges to form a cotyledonary structure called sprout (haustorium). The coconut sprout is one of the edible parts of the coconut. A study on the phytoconstituents of coconut sprouts using various bioassays and in silico docking was carried out with an approach toward the development of nutraceuticals (phytomedicine). The phytochemical screening by qualitative and quantitative analyses of the primary and secondary constituents was carried out on the methanol and aqueous extracts of the coconut sprouts using standard procedures. The phytochemicals were characterized using FTIR and GC-MS analyses. The anti-bacterial activity was studied against several human pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Shigella flexneri) by the agar well diffusion method. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibition of the protein denaturation method and the in vitro anti-oxidant activity using a DPPH radical scavenging assay were carried out. Further confirmation of the functional role of the phytoconstituent was studied through in silico docking. The qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of essential phytoconstituents. The quantitative analysis indicated the maximum amount of proteins, carbohydrates, flavonoids, and terpenoids in the methanol fresh coconut sprout extract with respective standards. The maximum zone of inhibitions were shown by Shigellaflexneri (32 ± 0.6 mm), Salmonella typhi (30 ± 0.4 mm), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (28 ± 0.3 mm). The in vitro anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant studies proved the presence of therapeutic bioactive potential in the sample. FTIR and GC-MS studies indicated the presence of essential phytoconstituents like flavonoids, terpenoids, fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins. The functional role of the specific therapeutic phytochemicals were confirmed through in silico docking. Further, the cytotoxicity effect of the coconut sprout extract was investigated on an adenocarcinoma gastric cell line (AGS) using a MTT assay. The results obtained were in a concentration-dependant manner. Thus, the fresh coconut sprouts are a natural, economically potent food source for human health, which can be a phytomedicine and nutrient supplement with a cost-effective approach. The dried sprouts can be recommended to the food industry for large-scale production with a quality check.
