Abstract
In this study, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of Bersama abyssinica (Melianthaceae) stem bark were screened for enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant properties. The water extract possessed the highest concentration of phenols (230.83 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract), while the methanol extract was rich in flavonoids (75.82 mg rutin equivalent/g extract), and the ethyl acetate extract possessed the highest amount of saponins (97.37 mg quillaja equivalent/g). The aim of this study was to investigate the antiproliferative effects against the human colon cancer HCT116 cell line challenged with serotonin (5-HT) as a stimulating-proliferation factor. The level of HCT116 cell-deriving pool of kynurenic acid (KA) was also assessed. The UHPLC results confirmed the presence of 58, 68, and 63 compounds in the ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts, respectively. Mangiferin, vitexin and its isomer isovitexin were tentatively identified in all extracts and KA (m/z 190.05042 [M−H]+) was also tentatively identified in the methanol and water extracts. The methanol extract (1464.08 mg Trolox equivalent [TE]/g extract) showed the highest activity in the CUPRAC assay, whereas the water extract (1063.70 mg TE/g extract) showed the highest activity with the FRAP technique. The ethyl acetate extract was the most active acetylcholinesterase (4.43 mg galantamine equivalent/g extract) and α-glucosidase (mmol acarbose equivalent /g extract) inhibitor. The water extract was able to inhibit 5-HT-stimulated viability of HCT116 cells, and blunt 5-HT-induced reduction of cell-deriving KA. The scientific data generated in this study provide baseline data regarding the biological properties of B. abyssinica stem bark, highlighting its potential use for the development of new pharmaceutic and cosmetic agents.
Highlights
Since ancient times, populations around the globe have relied on plants for food and medicinal purposes
Secondary metabolites have been classified into different categories depending on their molecular structure and this study attempted to screen the B. abyssinica stem bark extracts for phenols, flavonoids, phenolic acids, flavanols, tannins, and saponins
The main classes of secondary metabolites identified from B. abyssinica stem bark extracts were phenols, flavonoids, and saponins
Summary
Populations around the globe have relied on plants for food and medicinal purposes. Medicinal plants remain the most accessible source of therapeutics for the management of multiple ailments. Compounds from plants can be used as templates for the development of novel pharmaceutical agents, as well as in the form of botanical products or supplements referred to as complementary and alternative medicine for the prevention and management of diseases. One of the major challenges of scientists is to sustain alleged traditional therapeutic properties of medicinal plants and to rationalize proper dosage for safe use. In this context, research plays a pivotal role in the quest for novel candidates from plants. There is still a lack of scientific attention on bioactive compounds from many plants (especially wild plants)
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