Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in the content of phytochemical compounds and in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities of Teucrium polium L. aerial parts and root methanolic extracts at different phenological stages (vegetative, flowering, and seeding). The T. polium extracts were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their antioxidant properties were tested with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO), ferrous ions (Fe2+), and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) methods. Forty-nine compounds were identified with the majority of germacrene D, t-cadinol, β-pinene, carvacrol, bicyclogermacrene, α-pinene, and limonene. The results show that the extracts significantly differ between different phenological stages of the plant material used in terms of the phytochemical composition (total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, total alkaloids, and total saponin contents) and bioactivities (antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory) (p < 0.05). The highest total contents of phenolics (72.4 ± 2.5 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry weight), flavonoids (36.2 ± 3.1 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g dry weight), alkaloids (105.7 ± 2.8 mg atropine equivalent (AE)/g dry weight), and saponins (653 ± 6.2 mg escin equivalent (EE)/g dry weight), as well as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities, were measured for the extract of the aerial parts obtained at the flowering stage. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for the extracts were varied within 9.4–300 µg/mL, while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were varied within 18.75–600 µg/mL. In addition, they were more active on Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. The data of this work confirm that the T. polium extracts have significant biological activity and hence can be used in the pharmaceutical industry, clinical applications, and medical research, as well as cosmetic and food industries.
Highlights
Plants are a significant source of bioactive constituents including phenols, aromatic components, terpenoids, sterols, essential oils, alkaloids, tannins, and anthocyanins that play a significant role in the treatment of many diseases [1]
The T. polium plants were grown under the same conditions, the samples used for the preparation of the aerial parts and root extracts were obtained at their different phenological stages
This study reported the phytochemical analysis of the aerial parts and roots of T. polium extracts collected at different phenological stages
Summary
Plants are a significant source of bioactive constituents including phenols, aromatic components, terpenoids, sterols, essential oils, alkaloids, tannins, and anthocyanins that play a significant role in the treatment of many diseases [1]. The biological activity of medicinal plants (antioxidant, anti-aging, anticancer, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties) has received special attention [2]. Many studies reported that various medicinal plants are valuable sources of various molecules with the antioxidant and antibacterial activity that can protect the human body against various pathogens as well as cellular oxidation reactions. These molecules are able to control and inhibit pathogens not causing any high toxicity to cells, and for that reason, certain medicinal plants can be recommended as appropriate materials for new antimicrobial agent studies [5]. Different phytochemicals show the potential antibacterial activity against resistant and sensitive pathogens, and they can be promisingly considered as candidates for the development of new drugs [6]
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