The UPLC–ESI–QqQLIT–MS/MS method for quantitative determination of phytochemicals in ethanolic extracts of different parts of eight Ficus species: Development and validation

Phytochemical profiling of polyphenols and thyroid stimulatory activity of Ficus religiosa leaf extract in 6-propyl-thiouracil-induced hypothyroid rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The plant, Ficus religiosa (L.) from the family Moraceae, has been extensively used in Ayurveda and Unani. Traditionally this plant is known for the treatment of constipation, liver diseases and neurological disorders that are related to hypothyroidism.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was primarily designed to evaluate the effect of Ficus religiosa leaf (FL) extract in ameliorating hypothyroidism in rats and to identify the major bioactive compounds in the test extract that might be responsible for the thyroid-altering activity. In addition, the probable mechanism underlying the thyroid regulation of the main FL constituents were analyzed by molecular docking.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult female Wistar rats were used. LC-ESI-MS/MS was performed to identify the compounds present in the extract. HPLC analysis of FL extract was also performed. A pilot study was made using 3 doses of FL extract. Out of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg appeared to be the most effective one as it could increase thyroid hormones and decreased TSH levels. In the final experiment, propyl-thiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroid rats were orally treated with FL extract (100 mg/kg) or L-thyroxine (100 μg/kg, i.p.) daily for 28 consecutive days. On 29th day, all rats were sacrificed and the serum levels of triiodothyronine (T₃), thyroxine (T₄), thyrotropin (TSH), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and hepatic 5' deiodinase-1(5'D1) were estimated by ELISA. Liver marker enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, ALT and aspartate aminotransferase, AST); total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG); hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the activities of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione (GSH) content were estimated in liver tissues.

RESULTS

LC-MS-MS analyses of the leaf extract identified 11 compounds including the three major compounds, betulinic acid (BA), chlorogenic acid (CGA), and quinic acid (QA). While the PTU treatment decreased the levels of thyroid hormones and 5'D1 activity, it increased the TSH, ALT, AST, TNF-α, IL-6, TC, and TG levels. Furthermore, hepatic LPO significantly increased with a decrease in reduced GSH, SOD, CAT, and GPx. However, FL treatment in PTU-induced animals nearly reversed these adverse effects and improved liver function by decreasing ALT, AST, hepatic LPO and increasing the levels of antioxidants. FL not only improved the liver histology, but also suppressed the inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-6 in PTU-induced animals. A molecular docking study towards the understanding of the thyroid stimulatory mechanism of action revealed that BA, CGA, and QA might have augmented thyroid hormones by interacting with the thyroid hormone receptor (TRβ1) and TSH receptor (TSHR).

CONCLUSION

For the first time, we report the pro-thyroidal potential of Ficus religiosa leaf extract. We postulate that its main bioactive compounds, BA, CGA, and QA involved in this action may serve as novel thyroid agonists in ameliorating hypothyroidism.

Low-cost alternative for the bioproduction of bioactive phenolic compounds of callus cultures from Cereus hildmannianus (K.) Schum

The aim of this study was to establish a sustainable alternative callus culture of Cereus hildmannianus for the production and bioactive determination of phenolic compounds from this species. The conventional callus was cultivated using agar and Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, while for the alternative culture the agar was replaced with a cotton support covered with filter paper and MS medium (incubated at 32°C with photoperiod of 16h), and the morphological characteristics and growth index were assessed (8 weeks). Extracts were obtained by maceration followed by partition, characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance - NMR and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography - UHPLC, quantified (phenolic compounds) by UV-Vis methods, and their antioxidant, antitumor activities, as well as cytotoxicity, were evaluated. The establishment of an alternative callus culture was carried out successfully. Characteristic signals of phenolic compounds were determined by NMR, and 46 compounds with fragment ions were identified using UHPLC analysis. The highest concentrations of phenolic compounds, and greatest antioxidant and antitumor activities, were obtained with the dichloromethane fractions of both callus tissue cultures, which were not cytotoxic. The callus culture from C. hildmannianus has shown promise as a source for the sustainable production of phenolic compounds with antioxidant and antiproliferative activities and thus, has potential use as a natural antitumor product.

Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Potentials of Ficus glumosa and Its Bioactive Polyphenol Metabolites

Ficus glumosa Delile (Moraceae), a reputed plant that is used in herbal medicine, is of high medicinal and nutritional value in local communities primarily ascribed to its phytochemical profile. Currently, there are hardly any fine details on the chemical profiling and pharmacological evaluation of this species. In this study, the flavonoids and phenolics contents of the ethanol extracts and four extracted fractions (petroleum ether (PE), ethyl acetate (EA), n-butanol, and water) of the stem bark of Ficus glumosa were firstly quantified. Further, their antioxidant and antiproliferative potentials were also evaluated. The quantitative determination indicated that the EA and n-butanol fractions possessed the highest total flavonoids/phenolics levels of 274.05 ± 0.68 mg RE/g and 78.87 ± 0.97 mg GAE/g, respectively. Similarly, for the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, the EA fraction exhibited high potency in both DPPH and ABTS⁺ scavenging activities with IC₅₀ values of 0.23 ± 0.03 mg/mL, 0.22 ± 0.03 mg/mL, and FRAP potential of 2.81 ± 0.01 mg Fe²⁺/g, respectively. Furthermore, the EA fraction displayed high cytotoxicity against human lung (A549) and colon (HT-29) cancer cells. Additionally, the liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was employed in order to characterize the chemical constituents of the EA fraction of Ficus glumosa stem bark. Our findings revealed 16 compounds from the EA fraction that were possibly responsible for the strong antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties. This study provides edge-cutting background information on the exploitation of Ficus glumosa as a potential natural antioxidant and anti-cancer remedy.