Comparative Phytochemical Profiles of Medicinal Plants Used for Wound Treatment: Insights From Wild and Hydroponically Cultivated Species in Lugazi Diocese, Uganda

Abstract

Medicinal plants such as Centella asiatica, Conyza sumatrensis, and Justicia betonica are widely used in Uganda for traditional wound healing. However, the impact of cultivation conditions on their therapeutic potential remains poorly understood. This study compared the phytochemical profiles and bioactivities of hydroponically cultivated and wild-collected material of these species from Lugazi Diocese, Uganda. Extracts were prepared using ethanol, methanol, and water, and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV), headspace gas chromatography– mass spectrometry (HS-GC–MS), and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). TLC and HPLC-UV indicated terpenoids, flavonoids, and steroids, while HS-GC–MS revealed predominantly monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. LC– MS/MS annotated flavonoids, including quercetin-3-O-glucuronoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, and kaempferol, as well as triterpenoids such as asiatic acid and katononic acid. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae using the agar well diffusion method. Anti-inflammatory effects were assessed by IL-6 and IL-8 secretion, and cytotoxicity by MTT assay. Ethanol and methanol extracts exhibited moderate antibacterial activity, while aqueous extracts of wild C. asiatica and hydroponic C. sumatrensis significantly reduced IL-6 secretion. No cytotoxic effects were detected. These findings suggest hydroponic cultivation preserves essential phytochemicals and bioactivities, supporting sustainable production of medicinal plants for therapeutic applications.