Chemical Composition, Antibacterial Activity and Anticancer Evaluation of Methanolic Extract.

belongs to the family Resedaceae. It is widely spread in Saudi Arabia and other countries in Southwest Asia. is extensively used in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent, in addition to being a vital source of food for certain desert animal species. The aim of the present study was to investigate the chemical composition and antibacterial/anticancer activities of methanolic extracts collected from Hail, Saudi Arabia. The extracts were obtained by macerating the crude powder in methanol, followed by filtration and evaporation. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry () was used to analyze the methanolic extracts' chemical constituents. Broth microdilution assay for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination was used to assess antimicrobial activity, while the extracts' anticancer potential was assessed by sulforhodamine B Assay (SRB) assay. The results of the antibacterial assay showed that the methanolic extracts from the roots and branches possessed varying degrees of activity against particular bacterial strains, with the highest activity being exerted by the branches' extract against and (St), demonstrating MIC values of 15.6 µg/mL and 20 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the SRB cell viability assay revealed that only the branches' extract inhibited the growth of A549 cancer cells, with an IC value of 86.19 µg/mL. The analysis of the methanolic extracts from the plant's roots and branches was then conducted, resulting in the identification of 8 and 13 major chemical constituents, respectively. Azelaic acid, β-amyrin, and phytanic acid are some of the bioactive compounds that were detected in the extracts via , and they are thought to be responsible for the observed antibacterial/anticancer activity of methanolic extracts. This study confirmed the antibacterial/anticancer potential of methanolic extracts and analyzed their phytochemical constituents. Further isolation and biological screening are warranted to understand the therapeutic potential of .