Vol. 9, Issue 1, Part H (2025)

Background: Firmiana colorata, a deciduous tree, is used to treat digestive ailments, intestinal dysfunction, general weakness and jaundice in traditional medicine. It is also known to possess antimicrobial properties against various microorganisms. 
Objective: To identify bioactive compounds, to determine the total alkaloid, flavonoid, phenolic content and to evaluate anti-inflammatory activity in leaf, bark, and flower extracts of Firmiana colorata. The main challenge of the study was to identify as many as possible bioactive compounds of F. colorata as there is scanty literature available regarding it. Attempt was also made to find out the application of these compounds as sources of healing, treatment and substitutes for prevalent synthetic drugs available in the market. 
Methods: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry was employed to identify bioactive compounds present in leaf, leaf oil, bark and flower extracts of F. colorata. Spectrophotometric method was used to quantitatively assess ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of leaves, bark and flowers of F. colorata for their total alkaloid, flavonoid and phenolic content. AAPH-induced anti-hemolytic assay, LDH assay and protein denaturation assay were performed to determine the anti-inflammatory potential in the extracts of F. colorata. 
Results: GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 49 pharmacologically important bioactive compounds in leaf, leaf oil, bark and flower extracts of F. colorata. Quantitative analysis showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid content in ethyl acetate bark extract when compared to leaf and flower extracts. Anti-inflammatory activity was highest in ethanol flower extract. The study has revealed the distribution of various bioactive compounds across the different parts of the selected plant species and its potent anti-inflammatory activity contributes to the objective of the study. 
Conclusion: The presence of several pharmacologically important bioactive compounds and potent anti-inflammatory activity exhibited by the extracts of Firmiana colorata justifies its use in traditional medicine and renders medicinal status to the plant.