Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitory, Anticholinesterase and Photoprotective Activities of the Aerial Parts of Schinus molle L.

Abstract

Background: Schinus molle L. is a medicinal and aromatic plant widely used in folk medicine commonly found in Algeria and Mediterranean region. In the present work, we investigated the in vitro antioxidant, anti-cholinesterase, αglucosidase inhibitory and photoprotective potentials of the Schinus molle L. plant’s extract/fractions. The metabolite profile of Schinus molle L. was analyzed using RP-HPLC and GC-MS. Methods: Antioxidant activity was assessed using different tests. Anticholinesterase activity was investigated by quantifying the acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. Antidiabetic activity was investigated by αglucosidase inhibition test, whereas photoprotective activity was evaluated by sun protection factor (SPF) using spectrophotometry UV-Vis. The extracts were then submitted to RP-HPLC–PDA and GC–MS analysis. Results: Ethyl acetate and buthanol fractions with high contents of total phenolics and flavonoids exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity. Ethyl acetate extract exhibited considerable enzyme inhibition potential on acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase with percentages of inhibition of 99.08 ± 0.79 %, 100 % and 98.80 ± 0.18 % respectively. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate fraction showed high photoprotective activity with the sun protection factor (SPF) value = 38,26 ± 0.73. Three phenolic acids (gallic, tannic and vanillic acids) and five flavonoids (myricetin, apigenin, naringenin, rutin and quercetin) were identified with RP-HPLC–PDA. Conclusion: These findings suggest that Schinus molle L. may be useful in the development of an alternative agent for oxidative stress, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and could be used as a natural sunscreen in pharmaceutics or cosmetic formulations.