Abstract
Camelthorn, Alhagi maurorum Boiss, family Fabaceae has long been used in African folk medicine owing to its richness in pharmacologically active metabolites. The crude extract (CEAM), ethyl acetate fraction (EFAM) and n-butanol (BFAM) fraction of A. maurorum aerial parts were investigated for their total polyphenols and oral antiulcer activity using in-vitro and in-vivo models. The major phenolic compound was isolated from the polyphenol-rich EFAM fraction and identified by conventional and spectroscopic methods of analysis as isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside. Furthermore, standardization of EAFM using UPLC-PDA-UV quantified isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside as 262.91 0.57 g/mg of the fraction. Analysis of EFAM using UPLC-PDA-MS/MS revealed tentative identification of 25 polyphenolic compounds. EFAM exhibited the most potent free radical scavenging activity against DPPH, with an IC50 (27.73 ± 1.85 µg/mL) and an FRAP value of (176.60 ± 5.21 μM Trolox equivalent (TE)/mg fraction) in comparison with CEAM and BFAM. Acetic acid-induced oral ulcers in a rat model were used to evaluate the healing properties of A. maurorum aerial parts. EFAM significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) by 36.4% and 50.8%, respectively, in the ulcer tissues while, CEAM and BFAM exhibited lower activity at the same dose. In addition, EFAM led to a significant (p < 0.0001) rise in the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a cell proliferation marker. A. maurorum exhibited a potent healing effect in acetic acid-induced oral ulcers in rats by mitigating the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and improving PCNA expression.
Highlights
Oral mucosal ulcers are painful shallow sores or open lesions affecting the epithelium or the underlying connective tissues of the oral mucosa [1]
Plant polyphenols and flavonoids demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in both in vitro and in vivo models [43,46,47]. These anti-inflammatory activities can be achieved through scavenging free radicals, regulating cellular activities in inflammatory cells, and modulating the activity of inflammatory enzymes such as phospholipase A2, COX, and NOS, as well as through modulating the expression of other proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α [46,48,49]
Phytochemical investigation of EFAM resulted in the isolation and identification of two major flavonoids, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, both of which were previously reported in A. maurorum [18]
Summary
Oral mucosal ulcers are painful shallow sores or open lesions affecting the epithelium or the underlying connective tissues of the oral mucosa [1]. Oral ulcers can be classified as acute or chronic ulcers based on their appearance and progression. Oxidative stress is strongly associated with oral ulcer progression [3]. Plant polyphenols possess a potent therapeutic antioxidant effect protecting tissues against oxidative damage. They suppress ROS formation by inhibiting oxidative-related enzymes, scavenging ROS, or upregulating the antioxidant defense mechanisms. They modulate the inflammatory process by interacting with ROS and terminating chain reactions even before affecting cell viability [5]. Polyphenols have been found to reduce inflammation and improve the recovery process of chemically induced ulcers on rat tongues [7]
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