Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Thrombolytic, Hemolytic Activity In Vitro and In Silico Potential of Portulacaria afra

In-silico structural studies on anti-inflammatory activity of phytocompounds from the genus Andrographis

Plant species from the genus Andrographis were used in Ayurveda and in other folklore medicines for treating ailments for centuries. In this study, we have hypothesized to evaluate the secondary metabolites as potent anti-inflammatory agents from the genus Andrographis. A library of secondary metabolites of the said genus was curated from the PubChem database and was subjected to energy minimization using UCSF Chimera software employing the AMBER force field. Initially, molecular docking was performed to evaluate the binding affinity of the curated library against the enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) using AutoDock Vina. This resulted in shortlisting of two metabolites Echioidinin 5-O-glucoside was bound and 5,2',6'-Trihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxy flavone 2'-O-glucoside with high binding affinity than standard drugs Ibuprofen and Zileuton. In addition, molecular dynamic simulation studies confirm that these compounds form relatively more stable complexes than standard drugs with the above-said enzymes. The free binding energy values using MMGBSA of the above said ligands with COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX were found to be -49.18 kcal/mol, -38.60 kcal/mol, and -54.27 kcal/mol respectively, Whereas the standards have -21.77 kcal/mol, -9.96 kcal/mol, and -10.29 kcal/mol. Moreover, the in-silico ADMET analysis confirms the druggability of the shortlisted compounds. Later, this work will act as a base for in-vitro and in-vivo experimental studies to validate the anti-inflammatory potential of the same.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Ratanjot (Alkanna tinctoria L.) Root Extract, Rich in Antioxidants, Exhibits Strong Antimicrobial Activity against Foodborne Pathogens and Is a Potential Food Preservative

Natural and sustainable plant-based antioxidants and antimicrobials are highly desirable for improving food quality and safety. The present investigation assessed the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of active components from Alkanna tinctoria L. (herb) roots, also known as Ratanjot root. Two methods were used to extract active components: microwave-assisted hot water (MAHW) and ethanolic extraction. MAHW extract yielded 6.29%, while the ethanol extract yielded 18.27%, suggesting superior Ratanjot root extract powder (RRP) solubility in ethanol over water. The ethanol extract showed significantly higher antioxidant activity than the MAHW extract. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis revealed three major phenolic compounds: butanoic acid, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-; arnebin 7, and diisooctyl pthalate. The color attributes (L*, a*, b*, H°ab, C*ab) for the ethanolic and MAHW extracts revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in all the above parameters for both types of extracts, except for yellowness (b*) and chroma (C*ab) values. The ethanol extract exhibited antimicrobial activity against 14 foodborne bacteria, with a significantly higher inhibitory effect against Gram-positive bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) than the Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Escherichia coli). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were both 25 mg/mL for the Gram-negative bacteria, while the MIC and MBC concentrations varied for Gram-positive bacteria (0.049-0.098 mg/mL and 0.098-0.195 mg/mL) and the antimicrobial effect was bactericidal. The antimicrobial activities of RRP extract remained stable under broad temperature (37-100 °C) and pH (2-6) conditions, as well as during refrigerated storage for 30 days. Application of RRP at 1% (10 mg/g) and 2.5% (25 mg/g) levels in a cooked chicken meatball model system prevented lipid oxidation and improved sensory attributes and retarded microbial growth during refrigerated (4 °C) storage for 20 days. Furthermore, the RRP extract was non-toxic when tested with sheep erythrocytes and did not inhibit the growth of probiotics, Lacticaseibacillus casei, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. In conclusion, the study suggests that RRP possesses excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, thus making it suitable for food preservation.

Phytochemical analysis and biological investigation of Cheilanthes tenuifolia (Burm.f.) Swartz

Introduction: Cheilanthes tenuifolia is an evergreen ornamental small fern, belonging to the family Pteridaceae, that grows in warm and rocky regions worldwide. Many species of Cheilanthes genus are evidently endowed with important phytochemicals and bioactivities. This study aimed to perform a preliminary phytochemical analysis of Cheilanthes tenuifolia leaves alongside an evaluation of free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and clot lysis activities of extract fractions. Materials and methods: A preliminary phytochemical analysis was done after fractionation of ethanolic extract (ECT) with n-hexane (HCT) and chloroform (CCT). Then, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, egg albumin and RBC membrane stabilization tests, disc diffusion, and human blood clot lysis assays were performed. Results: Phytochemical investigations suggested that the plant is rich in alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, and flavonoids. All obtained fractions exhibited concentration-dependent radical scavenging, inhibition of egg protein denaturation and RBC membrane lysis capacities. Except for antifungal tests, ECT exhibited better DPPH radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and clot lysis capacities than HCT and CCT fractions. However, all fractions exhibited a mild anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion: C. tenuifolia might be a good source of antioxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-atherothrombotic agents. Further studies are required to isolate and characterize the active principles liable for each bioactivity, along with possible molecular interactions.

Phytochemical characterization of Typha domingensis and the assessment of therapeutic potential using in vitro and in vivo biological activities and in silico studies

Typha domingensis, a medicinal plant with significant traditional importance for curing various human diseases, has potentially bioactive compounds but was less explored previously. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of T. domingensis by evaluating the phytochemical profile through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques and its biological activities (in vitro and in vivo) from the methanolic extract derived from the entire plant (TDME). The secondary metabolite profile of TDME regulated by reverse phase ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (RP-UHPLC-MS) revealed some bioactive compounds by -ve and +ve modes of ionization. The HPLC quantification study showed the precise quantity of polyphenols (p-coumaric acid, 207.47; gallic acid, 96.25; and kaempferol, 95.78 μg/g extract). The enzyme inhibition assays revealed the IC50 of TDME as 44.75 ± 0.51, 52.71 ± 0.01, and 67.19 ± 0.68 µgmL-1, which were significant compared to their respective standards (indomethacin, 18.03 ± 0.12; quercetin, 4.11 ± 0.01; and thiourea, 8.97 ± 0.11) for lipoxygenase, α-glucosidase, and urease, respectively. Safety was assessed by in vitro hemolysis (4.25% ± 0.16% compared to triton × 100, 93.51% ± 0.36%), which was further confirmed (up to 10 g/kg) by an in vivo model of rats. TDME demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) potential in analgesic activity by hot plate and tail immersion tests and anti-inflammatory activity by the carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model. Pain latency decreased significantly, and the anti-inflammatory effect increased in a dose-dependent way. Additionally, in silico molecular docking revealed that 1,3,4,5-tetracaffeoylquinic acid and formononetin 7-O-glucoside-6″-O-malonate possibly contribute to enzyme inhibitory activities due to their higher binding affinities compared to standard inhibitors. An in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicological study also predicted the pharmacokinetics and safety of the chosen compounds identified from TDME. To sum up, it was shown that TDME contains bioactive chemicals and has strong biological activities. The current investigations on T. domingensis could be extended to explore its potential applications in nutraceutical industries and encourage the isolation of novel molecules with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

Metabolic Profiling by GC-MS, In Vitro Biological Potential, and In Silico Molecular Docking Studies of Verbena officinalis

Verbena officinalis L. is a traditionally important medicinal herb that has a rich source of bioactive phytoconstituents with biological benefits. The objective of this study was to assess the metabolic profile and in vitro biological potential of V. officinalis. The bioactive phytoconstituents were evaluated by preliminary phytochemical studies, estimation of polyphenolic contents, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of all fractions (crude methanolic, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol) of V. officinalis. The biological investigation was performed by different assays including antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP), enzyme inhibition assays (urease and α-glucosidase), and hemolytic activity. The ethyl acetate extract had the maximum concentration of total phenolic and total flavonoid contents (394.30 ± 1.09 mg GAE·g^-1 DE and 137.35 ± 0.94 mg QE·g^-1 DE, respectively). Significant antioxidant potential was observed in all fractions by all four antioxidant methods. Maximum urease inhibitory activity in terms of IC₅₀ value was shown by ethyl acetate fraction (10 ± 1.60 µg mL^-1) in comparison to standard hydroxy urea (9.8 ± 1.20 µg·mL^-1). The n-hexane extract showed good α-glucosidase inhibitory efficacy (420 ± 20 µg·mL^-1) as compared to other extract/fractions. Minimum hemolytic activity was found in crude methanolic fraction (6.5 ± 0.94%) in comparison to positive standard Triton X-100 (93.5 ± 0.48%). The GC-MS analysis of all extract/fractions of V. officinalis including crude methanolic, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol fractions, resulted in the identification of 24, 56, 25, and 9 bioactive compounds, respectively, with 80% quality index. Furthermore, the bioactive compounds identified by GC-MS were analyzed using in silico molecular docking studies to determine the binding affinity between ligands and enzymes (urease and α-glucosidase). In conclusion, V. officinalis possesses multiple therapeutical potentials, and further research is needed to explore its use in the treatment of chronic diseases.

Multifaced Assessment of Antioxidant Power, Phytochemical Metabolomics, In-Vitro Biological Potential and In-Silico Studies of Neurada procumbens L.: An Important Medicinal Plant

This work was undertaken to explore the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, and enzyme-inhibiting properties of Neurada procumbens L. extracts/fractions of varying polarity (methanol extract and its fractions including n-hexane, chloroform, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions). A preliminary phytochemical study of all extracts/fractions, HPLC-PDA polyphenolic quantification, and GC-MS analysis of the n-hexane fraction were used to identify the phytochemical makeup. Antioxidant (DPPH), enzyme inhibition (against xanthine oxidase, carbonic anhydrase, and urease enzymes), and antibacterial activities against seven bacterial strains were performed for biological investigation. The GC-MS analysis revealed the tentative identification of 22 distinct phytochemicals in the n-hexane fraction, the majority of which belonged to the phenol, flavonoid, sesquiterpenoid, terpene, fatty acid, sterol, and triterpenoid classes of secondary metabolites. HPLC-PDA analysis quantified syringic acid, 3-OH benzoic acid, t-ferullic acid, naringin, and epicatechin in a significant amount. All of the studied extracts/fractions displayed significant antioxidant capability, with methanol extract exhibiting the highest radical-scavenging activity, as measured by an inhibitory percentage of 81.4 ± 0.7 and an IC₅₀ value of 1.3 ± 0.3. For enzyme inhibition experiments, the n-hexane fraction was shown to be highly potent against xanthine oxidase and urease enzymes, with respective IC₅₀ values of 2.3 ± 0.5 and 1.1 ± 0.4 mg/mL. Similarly, the methanol extract demonstrated the strongest activity against the carbonic anhydrase enzyme, with an IC₅₀ value of 2.2 ± 0.4 mg/mL. Moreover, all the studied extracts/fractions presented moderate antibacterial potential against seven bacterial strains. Molecular docking of the five molecules β-amyrin, campesterol, ergosta-4,6,22-trien-3β-ol, stigmasterol, and caryophyllene revealed the interaction of these ligands with the investigated enzyme (xanthine oxidase). The results of the present study suggested that the N. procumbens plant may be evaluated as a possible source of bioactive compounds with multifunctional therapeutic applications.

Phytochemical Profiling, In Vitro Biological Activities, and In-Silico Studies of Ficus vasta Forssk.: An Unexplored Plant

Ficus vasta Forssk. (Moraceae family) is an important medicinal plant that has not been previously investigated for its phytochemical and biological potential. Phytochemical screening, total bioactive content, and GCMS analysis were used to determine its phytoconstituents profile. Antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-viral, cytotoxicity, thrombolytic, and enzyme inhibition activities were examined for biological evaluation. The plant extract exhibited the maximum total phenolic (89.47 ± 3.21 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid contents (129.2 ± 4.14 mg QE/g), which may be related to the higher antioxidant potential of the extract. The extract showed strong α-amylase (IC₅₀ 5 ± 0.21 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase inhibition activity (IC₅₀ 5 ± 0.32 µg/mL). Significant results were observed in the case of antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-viral activities. The F. vasta extract inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The GCMS analysis of the extract provided the preliminary identification of 28 phytocompounds. In addition, the compounds identified by GCMS were subjected to in silico molecular docking analysis in order to identify any interactions between the compounds and enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase). After that, the best-docked compounds were subjected to ADMET studies which provide information on pharmacokinetics, drug-likeness, physicochemical properties, and toxicity. The present study highlighted that the ethanol extract of F. vasta has antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-viral, and anti-cancer potentials that can be further explored for novel drug development.

Chemical Composition and Biological Evaluation of Typha domingensis Pers. to Ameliorate Health Pathologies: In Vitro and In Silico Approaches

Human diseases are becoming more prevalent, necessitating the development of modalities to overcome the challenges of treating various disorders. In the current research, we analyzed the biomedicinal role of Typha domingensis which is an important medicinal plant. The species is traditionally used in the treatment of neurological disorders and skin malignancies. The chloroform (CFTD) and n-butanol fractions of T. domingensis (BFTD) were subjected to chemical profiling through the determination of total polyphenolic contents and GC-MS analysis. The oral toxicity test was applied to investigate the toxicity of the extracts. Antioxidant capacity was analyzed by four in vitro methods: DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC. The pharmacological potential was evaluated through clinically significant enzyme inhibition assays, thrombolytic, and antimicrobial activities. In silico molecular docking approach was applied to confirm the role of T. domingensis against the enzymes. The polyphenolic quantification revealed that the BFTD was comparatively rich in total phenolic and flavonoid contents (97.14 milligrams gallic acid equivalent (mg GAE/g) and 362.5 milligrams quercetin equivalent per gram of dry extract (mg QE/g DE), respectively), as compared to the CFTD. The GC-MS analysis of the CFTD and BFTD resulted in the tentative identification of 67 and 29 compounds, respectively, with the major components of fatty acids and essential oil. The oral toxicity test revealed the safety and biocompatibility of CFTD and BFTD. Both the fractions showed promising antioxidant activity. Tyrosinase was found as the major enzyme inhibited by BFTD (78.67%) and CFTD (68.09%), whereas the standard kojic acid showed 85.58% inhibition. The inhibition results of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase by BFTD (71.65 and 60.79%, respectively) are higher than CFTD. Both the fractions were found active against various strains of bacteria. Furthermore, the molecular docking studies of the compounds showed a good docking score against all the docked enzymes among which deoxycaesaldekarin C was found with the highest binding affinities in comparison to the standard. The current study suggests that T. domingensis is nontoxic and can be a potential source of phytoconstituents with promising pharmacological potential.

Efficacy of Phytochemicals Derived from Roots of Rondeletia odorata as Antioxidant, Antiulcer, Diuretic, Skin Brightening and Hemolytic Agents—A Comprehensive Biochemical and In Silico Study

Roots of Rondeletia odorata are a rich source of phytochemicals with high antioxidant potential and thus may possess health benefits. This study used the LC-MS technique to identify phytoconstituents in R. odorata roots extract/fractions. Results revealed that n-butanol fraction and ethanolic extract contained total phenolic and flavonoid contents with values of 155.64 ± 0.66 mgGAE/g DE and 194.94 ± 0.98 mgQE/g DE, respectively. Significant potential of antioxidants was observed by DPPH, CUPRAC and FRAP methods while the ABTS method showed moderate antioxidant potential. Maximum % inhibition for urease, tyrosinase and carbonic anhydrase was shown by ethanolic extract (73.39 ± 1.11%), n-butanol soluble fraction (80.26 ± 1.59%) and ethyl acetate soluble fraction (76.50 ± 0.67%) which were comparable with thiourea (standard) (98.07 ± 0.74%), kojic acid (standard) (98.59 ± 0.92%) and acetazolamide (standard) (95.51 ± 1.29%), respectively, while all other extract/fractions showed moderate inhibition activity against these three enzymes. Hemolytic activity was also observed to range from 18.80 ± 0.42 to 3.48 ± 0.69% using the standard (triton X-100) method. In total, 28 and 20 compounds were identified tentatively by LC-MS analysis of ethanolic extract and n-butanol soluble fraction, respectively. Furthermore, molecular docking was undertaken for major compounds identified by LC-MS for determining binding affinity between enzymes (urease, tyrosinase and carbonic anhydrase) and ligands. It was concluded that active phytochemicals were present in roots of R. odorata with potential for multiple pharmacological applications and as a latent source of pharmaceutically important compounds. This should be further explored to isolate important constituents that could be used in treating different diseases.

Comprehensive Phytochemical Profiling, Biological Activities, and Molecular Docking Studies of Pleurospermum candollei: An Insight into Potential for Natural Products Development

The purpose of this study was to find the biological propensities of the vegetable plant Pleurospermum candollei by investigating its phytochemical profile and biological activities. Phytochemical analysis was done by spectroscopic methods to investigate the amount of total polyphenols, and biological evaluation was done by the different antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory (tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase), thrombolytic, and antibacterial activities. The highest amount of total phenolic and flavonoid contents was observed in methanolic extract (240.69 ± 2.94 mg GAE/g and 167.59 ± 3.47 mg QE/g); the fractions showed comparatively less quantity (57.02 ± 1.31 to 144.02 ± 2.11 mg GAE/g, and 48.21 ± 0.75 to 96.58 ± 2.30 mg QE/g). The effect of these bioactive contents was also related to biological activities. GCMS analysis led to the identification of bioactive compounds with different biological effects from methanolic extract (antioxidant; 55.07%, antimicrobial; 56.41%), while the identified compounds from the n-hexane fraction with antioxidant properties constituted 67.86%, and those with antimicrobial effects constituted 82.95%; however, the synergetic effect of polyphenols may also have contributed to the highest value of biological activities of methanolic extract. Molecular docking was also performed to understand the relationship of identified secondary metabolites with enzyme-inhibitory activities. The thrombolytic activity was also significant (40.18 ± 1.80 to 57.15 ± 1.10 % clot lysis) in comparison with streptokinase (78.5 ± 1.53 to 82.34 ± 1.25% clot lysis). Methanolic extract also showed good activity against Gram-positive strains of bacteria, and the highest activity was observed against Bacillus subtilis. The findings of this study will improve our knowledge of phytochemistry, and biological activities of P. candollei, which seems to be a ray of hope to design formulations of natural products for the improvement of health and prevention of chronic diseases; however, further research may address the development of novel drugs for use in pharmaceuticals.