Evaluation of medicinally important constituents of Cotoneaster afghanicus G.Klotz collected from Baluchistan region of Pakistan

Cotoneaster afghanicus G.Klotz, indigenous to mountainous parts of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan is also present in Baluchistan region of Pakistan and has medicinally important fixed oils and essential oils. The oils and chemical compounds extracted from C. afghanicus were subjected to chemical analyses and evaluation of antioxidant, antibacterial, biofilm inhibiting, thrombolytic and cytotoxic effects. Fixed and essential oils were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, which enabled identification of 4 and 14 compounds. Fixed oil showed significant antioxidant (64.67 % scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical) and antibacterial (7 mm zone of inhibition for Gram-positive bacteria) activities. Ethanol extract (355 mg/100 g of sample) showed highest biofilm inhibitory activity (54.63 %) among the extracted compounds. Essential oil and ethanol extract also showed notable antioxidant effect with less cytotoxic effect indicating that these are good biologically active agents. The results of this study suggest to further investigate the use of extracted oils and chemical compounds as treatments for local ailments.