Khan Rashid, Afza Rabia, Ahmad Bashir, Miskeen Sumaira, Ahmad Khalid, Abdel-Maksoud Mostafa A, Alrokayan Salman, Y Zaky Mohamed
Department of Botany, Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China.
PLoS One. 2025 Jul 2;20(7):e0326991. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0326991. eCollection 2025.
Medicinal plants are an essential reservoir of natural compounds with diverse pharmacological properties. This study focuses on Debregeasia saeneb, (Forsk.) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood a relatively unexplored plant recognized for its traditional medicinal uses. The research aims to identify and analyze the phytochemical composition of D. saeneb (Forsk.) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood leaves, as well as evaluating their antioxidant and antidiabetic potential. This study systematically identified and analyzed the phytochemical constituents of D. saeneb (Forsk.) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood leaves utilizing Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), alongside both quantitative and qualitative assays. The biological activities were assessed through radical scavenging assays, specifically DPPH (1,1-di-phenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), and α-amylase inhibitory assays, which have been largely underexplored across various solvents. The GC-MS analysis revealed a diverse range of compounds, with ethyl acetate extracts containing six compounds, chloroform extracts containing seven, and n-hexane extracts containing three distinct compounds. Further qualitative assessments confirmed the presence of glycosides, leucoanthocyanins, quinones, lignins, carbohydrates, terpenoids, anthraquinones, and phlobatannins in the extracts of D. saeneb (Forsk.) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood. Quantitative analyses established the total phenolic, tannin, and flavonoid contents, revealing a positive correlation among the different extracts. Specifically, the total flavonoid (TF) content in the standard ranged from 0.34 to 1.189 µg/mL, while in methanol extracts it ranged from 0.087 to 0.778 µg/mL, in ethyl acetate from 0.188 to 0.624 µg/mL, and in n-hexane from 0.03 to 0.44 µg/mL. The total tannin content (TTC) in the standard ranged from 0.462 to 2.359 µg/mL, with methanol extracts showing values from 0.016 to 0.048 µg/mL, ethyl acetate from 0.0196 to 0.153 µg/mL, and n-hexane from 0.0012 to 0.134 µg/mL. The total phenolic content (TPC) in the standard ranged from 0.11 to 0.38 µg/mL, with methanol extracts ranging from 0.042 to 0.267 µg/mL, ethyl acetate from 0.0275 to 0.487 µg/mL, and n-hexane from 0.001 to 0.348 µg/mL. In ethanol extracts, the radical scavenging capacity (RSC) ranged from 0.005 to 0.05 µg/mL, in methanol from 0.01 to 0.09 µg/mL, and in aqueous extracts from 0.005 to 0.035 µg/mL, while the standard RSC ranged from 0.5 to 4.5 µg/mL. The biological activity assays indicated that D. saeneb (Forsk.) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood extracts exhibited significant α-amylase inhibition, suggesting potential anti-diabetic properties. Furthermore, all extracts demonstrated radical scavenging activity in both ABTS and DPPH assays, with the methanol extract exhibiting the highest antioxidant activity. In conclusion, this research provides comprehensive insights into the phytochemical profile of D. saeneb (Forsk.) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood leaves and its potential therapeutic applications, including anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects, thereby warranting further investigation into molecular mechanisms, drug development, and health promotion.
药用植物是具有多种药理特性的天然化合物的重要储存库。本研究聚焦于德氏艾麻(Debregeasia saeneb, (Forsk.) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood),这是一种相对未被充分研究的植物,因其传统药用价值而闻名。该研究旨在鉴定和分析德氏艾麻(Debregeasia saeneb, (Forsk.) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood)叶片的植物化学成分,并评估其抗氧化和抗糖尿病潜力。本研究利用气相色谱 - 质谱联用(GC - MS)以及定量和定性分析方法,系统地鉴定和分析了德氏艾麻(Debregeasia saeneb, (Forsk.) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood)叶片的植物化学成分。通过自由基清除试验评估生物活性,具体为DPPH(1,1 - 二苯基 - 2 - 苦基肼)、ABTS(2,2 - 联氮 - 双 - (3 - 乙基苯并噻唑啉 - 6 - 磺酸))以及α - 淀粉酶抑制试验,这些试验在各种溶剂中的研究大多未充分开展。GC - MS分析揭示了多种化合物,乙酸乙酯提取物含有六种化合物,氯仿提取物含有七种,正己烷提取物含有三种不同的化合物。进一步的定性评估证实了德氏艾麻(Debregeasia saeneb, (Forsk.) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood)提取物中存在糖苷、无色花青素、醌类、木质素、碳水化合物、萜类、蒽醌和鞣花单宁。定量分析确定了总酚、单宁和黄酮类化合物的含量,揭示了不同提取物之间的正相关关系。具体而言,标准品中的总黄酮(TF)含量范围为0.34至1.18μg/mL,而甲醇提取物中为0.087至0.778μg/mL,乙酸乙酯中为0.188至0.624μg/mL,正己烷中为0.03至0μg/mL。标准品中的总单宁含量(TTC)范围为0.462至2μg/mL,甲醇提取物的值为0.016至0.048μg/mL,乙酸乙酯为0.0196至0.153μg/mL,正己烷为0.0012至0.134μg/mL。标准品中的总酚含量(TPC)范围为0.11至0.38μg/mL,甲醇提取物范围为0.042至0.267μg/mL,乙酸乙酯为0.0275至0.487μg/mL,正己烷为0.001至0.348μg/mL。在乙醇提取物中,自由基清除能力(RSC)范围为0.005至0.05μg/mL,甲醇中为0.01至0.09μg/mL,水提取物中为0.005至0.035μg/mL,而标准RSC范围为0.5至4μg/mL。生物活性试验表明,德氏艾麻(Debregeasia saeneb, (Forsk.) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood)提取物表现出显著的α - 淀粉酶抑制作用,表明其具有潜在的抗糖尿病特性。此外,所有提取物在ABTS和DPPH试验中均表现出自由基清除活性,其中甲醇提取物表现出最高的抗氧化活性。总之,本研究为德氏艾麻(Debregeasia saeneb, (Forsk.) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood)叶片的植物化学特征及其潜在的治疗应用提供了全面的见解,包括抗糖尿病和抗氧化作用,因此有必要进一步研究其分子机制、药物开发和健康促进作用。