Quisqualis indica commonly known as Rangoon creeper, is a medicinal and ornamental plant belonging to the family Combretaceae. It is widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions and is traditionally used for its pharmacological properties. The plant is rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and alkaloids, which contribute to its diverse therapeutic potentials. Extracts of Q. indica have demonstrated significant antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, and anticancer activities in various studies. In the present study the molecular and phylogenetic analysis were performed using DNA barcoding for establishing the authenticity of the plant sample. Further HPTLC and GC-MS were conducted for phytochemical profiling followed by determining the antimicrobial efficacy of the plant extracts. The DNA barcoding with gene markers ITS, matK, rpoB, trnH- psbA and rbcL) showed >99% genetic similarity. Qualitative assays and HPTLC analysis revealed a predominant phytochemical signature dominated by phenols, tannins, and saponins under the experimental conditions. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis revealed solvent-dependent differences in chemical composition between the extracts. The antibacterial and antifungal assays significantly (p= <0.005) confirmed the efficiency of extracts. Overall, this study is an integrated approach employing DNA barcoding and antimicrobial assessment which lays a solid foundation for developing standardized, safe, and effective Q. indica-based nutraceutical and therapeutic formulations with broad-spectrum antimicrobial relevance.
Keywords: Quisqualis indica, DNA barcoding, phytochemical analysis, HPTLC, GC-MS, antimicrobial analysis
How to cite this article: Rajaguru B. and Kokitkar S. Phylogenetic, Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Quisqualis Indica L. to Explore Its Drug Delivery Potential as a Nutraceutical. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(5s): 20-32. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.5s.3