ABSTRACT
Introduction: Coriandrum sativum L. essential oil (CS-EO) is being evaluated in vitro for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and its volatile compounds are to be identified as part of this exploratory study. Methods: The processes underlying the in vitro biological properties were explained using in silico simulations, including drug-likeness prediction, molecular docking, and pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity-ADMET). Chemical screening of CS-EO was conducted using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Five in vitro complementary techniques were used to assess the antioxidant activity of CS-EO: reducing power (RP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, ß-Carotene bleaching test (BCBT), and phosphomolybdenum assay (TAC). Results: According to GC-MS analysis, linalool (59.04%), γ-Terpinene (13.02%), and α-Pinene (6.83%) are the main constituents of CS-EO. Based on the in vitro antioxidant assay results, CS-EO has been found to have a superior antioxidant profile. Its estimated scavenging rates for ABTS+ are 0.51 ± 0.04 mg/mL, BCBT is 9.02 ± 0.01 mg/mL, and CS-EO is 1.52 ± 0.14 mg/mL. C. sativum demonstrated 6.13 ± 0.00 µg/mL for reducing power and 213.44 ± 0.45 mg AAE/mL for total antioxidant activity. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of CS-EO was assessed against five strains, including two gram-positive bacteria, two gram-negative bacteria, and one fungal strain (Candida albicans). Significant antibacterial and antifungal activities against all strains were found using the disc-diffusion assay, with zones of inhibition larger than 15 mm. The microdilution test highlighted the lowest MIC and MBC values with gram-positive bacteria, ranging from 0.0612 to 0.125% v/v for MIC and 0.125% v/v for MBC. The fungal strain's MFC was 1.0% v/v and its MIC was measured at 0.5%. Based on the MBC/MIC and MFC/MIC ratios, CS-EO exhibits bactericidal and fungicidal activity. The ADMET study indicates that the primary CS-EO compounds are good candidates for the development of pharmaceutical drugs due to their favorable pharmacokinetic properties. Conclusion: These results point to a potential application of this plant as a natural remedy and offer empirical backing for its traditional uses. It is a promising environmentally friendly preservative that can be used extensively in the food and agricultural industries to prevent aflatoxin contamination and fungal growth in stored goods.
ABSTRACT
Currently, several studies have demonstrated the benefits of medicinal plants in managing type 2 diabetes. In this work, we evaluated the beneficial effects of the polyphenolic extract (PESB) from Salvia blancoana subsp. mesatlantica in the management of hypercaloric-feeding and small-dose alloxan-brought type 2 diabetes in rats. We analyzed the chemical constituents of the extract, including flavones and flavonols content, to understand its biological action. The antioxidant activities were evaluated by total antioxidant action, scavenging effect of the free radical DPPH, and reducing power. The obtained results showed that the value of TFC was estimated at 31.90 ± 0.34 mgEQ/g in the PESB extract. The total antioxidant capacity was estimated at 593.51 ± 4.09 mg (EAA)/g, the value of DPPH IC50 was 7.3 ± 0.00 µg/mL, and the value of EC50 of reducing power was estimated at 6.43 ± 0.01 µg/mL. In total, 14 phenolic compounds were identified and the naringin was the most dominant (63.19%) while the vanillin was the less recorded (0.10%). Serum glucose decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in rats given PESB (100 mg/kg) after four weeks. Glibenclamide (GLB) and PESB reduced HbA1c and increased plasma insulin in diabetic rats, restoring HOMA-ß and HOMA-IR levels to near-normal. Additionally, diabetic rats treated with GLB or PESB showed statistically equivalent results to those of non-diabetic rats regarding hepatic enzymes, renal and lipid markers, as well as cardiovascular indices. The weight loss was significantly lower in diabetic rats receiving a dose of PESB (100 mg/kg), and GLB compared to corresponding untreated diabetic rats (p < 0.01). PESB and GLB showed a prominent protective function in the pancreas, liver, and kidney tissues. This investigation demonstrates the capacity of extracts from leaves of S. blancoana subsp. mesatlantica to manage diabetes mellitus due to their richness in a wide range of bioactive compounds. Therefore, more investigations are required to estimate the safety of the plant use.
ABSTRACT
Ferula communis L. is thought to possess a wide range of therapeutic qualities. This plant's safety is critical regarding its potential uses as a medicine. Using the techniques outlined in the OECD recommendations, the present study aimed to assess the acute and subacute toxicity profiles of Ferula communis aqueous extract (FC-Ext) in mice. In the acute study, the FC-Ext was administered to adult male and female Swiss albino mice through oral and intraperitoneal routes at doses of 0-4 g/kg. The general behavioral effects, mortality rates, and latency of mortality were evaluated for a period of 14 days. For the sub-acute dose study, the FC-Ext was administered orally to adult mice at doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg on a daily basis for 28 days. Body weight and selected biochemical and hematological parameters were measured, and histological examinations of the liver, kidney, and spleen were conducted to assess any signs of organ damage at the end of the treatment period. The results of the acute toxicity study demonstrated that the LD50 values for the oral and intraperitoneal administration of FC-Ext were 3.6 g/kg and 2.3 g/kg, respectively. In the subacute toxicity study of FC-Ext, no significant changes in body weight were observed. However, a substantial increase in the weights of the liver, kidney, and spleen was observed in male mice. The administration of FC-Ext to mice at doses higher than 250 mg/kg resulted in a decrease in white blood cells and platelets in both sexes and a reduction in red blood cells and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration in males and hemoglobin in females. No changes in biochemical parameters were observed. Microscopic examination of vital organs such as the liver, kidney, and spleen revealed no significant injuries. Based on the current results, the aqueous extract of Ferula communis has low toxicity. These findings provide important information about the toxicity profile of the traditional medicine plant Ferula communis.
ABSTRACT
The Middle Atlas is a Moroccan territory that serves as an abode to plants with incredible biodiversity, of which aromatic and medicinal plants that have been of folkloric use are a significant component. However, their effective utilization in modern medicine requires the characterization of their phytochemicals to facilitate their entry into drug discovery pipelines. Hence, this study aimed to characterize and investigate the antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effects of the essential oils (EOs) of Salvia lavandulifolia subsp. mesatlantica and Salvia officinalis L. by use of in vitro and in silico assays. Ten phytochemicals were identified in the EOs of S. lavandulifolia, while twenty phytochemicals were identified in S. officinalis. Camphor was the most abundant compound in both species, comprising 26.70% and 39.24% of the EOs of S. lavandulifolia and S. officinalis, respectively. The EOs of both plants exhibited significant DPPH free radical scavenging activity, with S. lavandulifolia and S. officinalis showing estimated scavenging rates of 92.97% and 75.20%, respectively. In terms of Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), S. officinalis demonstrated a higher value (72.08%) compared to that of S. lavandulifolia (64.61%). Evaluation of the antimicrobial effects of the EOs of S. officinalis and S. lavandulifolia against microorganisms revealed bactericidal activities against Proteus mirabilis and Bacillus subtilis at low concentrations. It showed bactericidal activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans at a relatively higher concentration. Molecular docking of antioxidant and antimicrobial proteins offers significant insights into ligand-protein interactions, facilitating the development of innovative therapeutics from the current study. Ultimately, this study identified the phytochemical composition of S. lavandulifolia and S. officinalis and highlighted their potential for therapeutic discovery.