PHARMACOGNOSTICAL, PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL AND IN‑VITRO EVALUATION OF DIOSCOREA BULBIFERA BULBILS FOR ITS BIOSURFACTANT PROPERTIES

Background: The dermatological and environmental drawbacks of synthetic surfactants have intensified the search for renewable, plant-derived alternatives. Saponin-bearing botanicals are promising biosurfactant sources owing to their amphiphilic character, biodegradability and low toxicity. 

Objective: To perform a pharmacognostic, preliminary phytochemical and in-vitro evaluation of D. bulbifera bulbils — including total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant capacity — and to explore their biosurfactant potential for cosmetic and toiletry applications.

Materials and Methods: Bulbils were collected, authenticated, shade-dried and powdered. Successive cold maceration yielded methanolic (alcoholic) and aqueous extracts. Physicochemical parameters (ash values, extractive values, moisture content) were determined per WHO guidelines. Preliminary phytochemical screening, TPC (Folin–Ciocalteu), TFC (aluminium chloride), DPPH radical-scavenging assay, foaming index, saponification value and an ex-vivo haemolytic assay (UV-visible spectrophotometry at 540 and 630 nm) were performed on the extracts.

Results: The total ash was 0.145 ± 0.0015% w/w, and the alcohol-soluble extractive value (0.152 ± 0.021 g) exceeded the water-soluble value (0.026 ± 0.004 g). Moisture content was 22%. Screening confirmed alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, proteins, inulin and starch in varying degrees. TPC, TFC (106.93 ± 0.02 mg GAE/g and 11.51 ± 0.02 mg QE/g) and DPPH IC₅₀ values (7.47 ± 1.1 μg/mL) were determined for both extracts. The alcoholic extract exhibited a higher foaming index (49.88 ± 23.26) and a saponification value of 151.47 mg KOH/g, and produced pronounced concentration-dependent haemolysis, whereas the aqueous extract was haemolytically negative.

Conclusion: D. bulbifera bulbils are a rich source of saponins concentrated in the alcoholic fraction, as corroborated by concordant foaming, saponification and haemolytic data, and possess measurable phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant content. These findings substantiate the biosurfactant potential of the bulbils and support their development as eco-friendly ingredients for cosmetic and toiletry formulations.