Ducrosia spp., Rare Plants with Promising Phytochemical and Pharmacological Characteristics: An Updated Review

Effect of Ducrosia anethifolia methanol extract against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms on excision wound in diabetic mice

Background

Ducrosia anethifolia is an aromatic desert plant used in Saudi folk medicine to treat skin infections. It is widely found in Middle Eastern countries.

Methods

A methanolic extract of the plant was prepared, and its phytoconstituents were determined using LC-MS. In-vitro and in-vivo antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the methanolic extract were evaluated against multidrug-resistant bacteria. The cytotoxic effect was assessed using HaCaT cell lines in-vitro. Diabetic mice were used to study the in-vivo antibiofilm and wound healing activity using the excision wound method.

Results

More than 50 phytoconstituents were found in the extract after LC-MS analysis. The extract exhibited antibacterial activity against both the tested pathogens. The extract was free of irritant effects on mice skin, and no cytotoxicity was observed on HaCaT cells with an IC50 value of 1381 µg/ml. The ointment formulation of the extract increased the healing of diabetic wounds. The microbial load of both pathogens in the wounded tissue was also reduced after the treatment. The extract was more effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) than MDR-P. aeruginosa in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Further, skin regeneration was also observed in histological studies.

Conclusions

The results showed that D. anethifolia methanol extract supports wound healing in infected wounds in diabetic mice through antibacterial, antibiofilm, and wound healing activities.

Changes in polyphenolic composition, physiological characteristics, and yield-related traits of Moshgak (Ducrosia anethifolia Boiss.) populations in response to drought stress

Ducrosia anethifolia (DC.) Boiss. is an aromatic medicinal plant that has been traditionally used as an analgesic to treat headaches, backaches, colic, and cold. This study evaluated the yield, physiological, and phytochemical traits of 24 populations for 2 consecutive years under the water stress condition. The seed yield and physiological traits demonstrated the highest values in the first and second year, respectively. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant activity enzymes were elevated, while chlorophyll, carotenoids, relative water content (RWC), and yield decreased under drought stress. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was also applied to assess the changes in some polyphenolic compounds in response to water stress. The increase in some phenolic compounds, such as p-coumaric acid, was recorded due to drought stress, while there was a decrease in flavonoids, that is luteolin and quercetin. Among the populations, Abarkuh2 indicated the highest increase in p-coumaric acid (96%) in response to drought stress. In general, high diversity among the studied populations provides new insights into choosing the beneficial populations for medicinal and food purposes. HIGHLIGHTS: • Changes in polyphenolics of Moshgak populations were obtained in response to water stress. • Gallic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and vanillic acid were the major components. • The phenolic compounds was increased due to drought stress while flavonoids were decreased High variation was obtained between Moshgak populations.

Anti-Diabetic Activities of Hydro-Methanolic Crude Extract and Solvent Fractions of Heteromorpha arborescens (Apiaceae) Leaves in Mice

Background

Heteromorpha arborescens has been used to treat diabetes traditionally. There was no in vivo study to support the claim. This study aimed to confirm anti-diabetic activity of 80% methanol in water extract and solvent fractions of H. arborescens leaves in mice.

Methods

H. arborescens leaves were macerated and extracted in 80% methanol in water. Hydro-methanol extract of H. arborescens leaves were tested in mice models. Overnight fasted mice were randomly divided into five groups for normoglycemic and glucose-loaded models as a negative control, positive control, and three tested groups, whereas, in streptozotocin-induced diabetic models, the mice were grouped into six groups each comprised six mice: diabetic negative control and normal negative control groups treated with 10 mL/kg distilled water, diabetic positive control group treated with Glibenclamide 5 mg/kg and three diabetic tested groups treated with extract at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg doses. A one-way ANOVA was performed to analyze the data, and the post hoc Tukey's test was utilized for multiple comparisons. The P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Hydro-methanol extract of H. arborescens leaves at 400 mg/kg in normoglycemic mice significantly lowered blood glucose levels (BGLs) (P< 0.01). Mice with oral glucose-loaded test lowered BGLs at dosages of 200 mg/kg (P < 0.05) and 400 mg/kg (P < 0.01) respectively. Single-dose of ethyl acetate, n-hexane fractions and hydro-methanol extract at 100 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg reduced BGLs (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, and P < 0.01) respectively. BGL drops in diabetic mice given daily repeated doses of 200 mg/kg of hydro-methanol extract and 400 mg/kg of ethyl acetate fraction (P < 0.001). Diabetic mice gained weight at a 400 mg/kg hydro-methanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) respectively. Hydro-methanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction and at 200 mg/kg decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein and increased high-density lipoprotein (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

80% methanol in water extract and solvent fractions of H. arborescens leaves showed anti-diabetic effects and significantly reduced hyperlipidemia in diabetics, this study supported the traditional usage of H. arborescens for treating diabetes; however, species variation could also limit such a straightforward extrapolation of the findings of this study in humans.

Chemical Composition of Ducrosia flabellifolia L. Methanolic Extract and Volatile Oil: ADME Properties, In Vitro and In Silico Screening of Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities

In the present study, the chemical composition of the volatile oil and methanolic extract from Ducrosia flabellifolia Boiss. was investigated. The antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of the methanolic extract from D. flabellifolia aerial parts were screened using experimental and computational approaches. Results have reported the identification of decanal (28.31%) and dodecanal (16.93%) as major compounds in the essential oil obtained through hydrodistillation. Farnesyl pyrophosphate, Methyl 7-desoxypurpurogallin-7-carboxylate trimethyl ether, Dihydro-Obliquin, Gummiferol, 2-Phenylaminoadenosine, and 2,4,6,8,10-dodecapentaenal, on the other hand, were the dominant compounds in the methanolic extract. Moreover, the tested extract was active against a large collection of bacteria and yeast strains with diameter of growth inhibition ranging from 6.67 ± 0.57 mm to 17.00 ± 1.73 mm, with bacteriostatic and fungicidal activities against almost all tested microorganisms. In addition, D. flabellifolia methanolic extract was dominated by phenolic compounds (33.85 ± 1.63 mg of gallic acid equivalent per gram of extract) and was able to trap DPPH• and ABTS•+ radicals with IC50 about 0.05 ± 0 mg/mL and 0.105 ± 0 mg/mL, respectively. The highest percentages of anticancer activity were recorded at 500 µg/mL for all cancer cell lines with IC50 about 240. 56 µg/mL (A-549), 202.94 µg/mL (HCT-116), and 154.44 µg/mL (MCF-7). The in-silico approach showed that D. flabellifolia identified compounds bound 1HD2, 2XCT, 2QZW, and 3LN1 with high affinities, which together with molecular interactions and the bond network satisfactorily explain the experimental results using antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer assays. The obtained results highlighted the ethnopharmacological properties of the rare desertic D. flabellifolia plant species growing wild in Hail region (Saudi Arabia).

Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities of Ducrosia flabellifolia: A Combined Experimental and Computational Approaches

Ducrosia flabellifolia Boiss. is a rare desert plant known to be a promising source of bioactive compounds. In this paper, we report for the first time the phytochemical composition and biological activities of D. flabellifolia hydroalcoholic extract by using liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) technique. The results obtained showed the richness of the tested extract in phenols, tannins, and flavonoids. Twenty-three phytoconstituents were identified, represented mainly by chlorogenic acid, followed by ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and sinapic acid. The tested hydroalcoholic extract was able to inhibit the growth of all tested bacteria and yeast on agar Petri dishes at 3 mg/disc with mean growth inhibition zone ranging from 8.00 ± 0.00 mm for Enterococcus cloacae (E. cloacae) to 36.33 ± 0.58 mm for Staphylococcus epidermidis. Minimal inhibitory concentration ranged from 12.5 mg/mL to 200 mg/mL and the hydroalcoholic extract from D. flabellifolia exhibited a bacteriostatic and fungistatic character. In addition, D. flabellifolia hydroalcoholic extract possessed a good ability to scavenge different free radicals as compared to standard molecules. Molecular docking studies on the identified phyto-compounds in bacterial, fungal, and human peroxiredoxin 5 receptors were performed to corroborate the in vitro results, which revealed good binding profiles on the examined protein targets. A standard atomistic 100 ns dynamic simulation investigation was used to further evaluate the interaction stability of the promising phytocompounds, and the results showed conformational stability in the binding cavity. The obtained results highlighted the medicinal use of D. flabellifolia as source of bioactive compounds, as antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal agent.