Identification and Quantification of Polyphenolic Secondary Metabolites in Stem Bark of Ficus religiosa (Moraceae) Using UPLC-HRMS and RP-HPLC-PDA

Abstract

F. religiosa bark has been extensively used in traditional medicinal systems, such as Ayurveda, for its health benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate the secondary metabolites (phenolics and flavonoids) of the hydroalcoholic stem-bark extract from F. religiosa because this plant has been proven to have a beneficial effect on health disorders. Therefore, a pilot study was conducted for the identification and quantification of polyphenolic compounds in F. religiosa bark using sophisticated chromatographical techniques such as UPLC-HRMS and RP-HPLC-PDA. Additionally, total flavonoids, total phenolics and the scavenging profile of the bark were studied using a UV spectrophotometer. A total of 23 compounds identified with UPLC-HRMS were mainly phenolic acids, polyphenolics, and flavonoids (flavanols and proanthocyanidins). Among the identified compounds, gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, and ellagic acid were simultaneously quantified (0.031–0.380%) using RP-HPLC-PDA. Thereafter, the study complied by evaluating the total flavonoids (109.15 ± 1.2 mg RuE/g and 33.78 ± 0.86 mg CaE/g), total phenolics (4.81 ± 1.01 mg GaE/g), and scavenging profiles (IC50 13.75 ± 0.12 µg/mL) of the F. religiosa bark. This is the first report on the chemical profiling of F. religiosa bark, which is a necessary step to evaluate its nutraceutical properties, paving the way for possible food application.

An In Vivo and In Silico Approach Reveals Possible Sodium Channel Nav1.2 Inhibitors from Ficus religiosa as a Novel Treatment for Epilepsy

“…It has widespread distribution, thriving among tropical Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh [ 21 ]. In addition to a plethora of its curative properties for diseases such as bleeding disorders, digestive impairments, rheumatism, topical disorders, urinary obstructions and antidiabetic, antioxidant and anti-amnesic profiles, the plant has been postulated to possess significant antiepileptic activity in ethnomedicinal scriptures and contemporary research studies [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. These therapeutic properties have been attributed to the presence of secondary metabolites including campesterol, serotonin, lanosterol, methyl oleanolate, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, lupin 3-one, bergenin, amides, and caffeic acid, as well as a number of flavonoids [ 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”

A Novel UHPLC-MS/MS Method for the Quantification of Seven Opioids in Different Human Tissues

“…The evaluation of these molecules in different biological matrices should be carried out with sensitive and specific methodologies, such as liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) [ 29 , 30 ]. This technique has been also applied in several fields, for example for the quantification of different phytocostituents and metabolites, as shown in the works of Thakur et al and Perez De Souza et al [ 31 , 32 ].…”