Phenolic profile and biological properties of the leaves of Ficus vasta Forssk. (Moraceae) growing in Egypt

Abstract

BackgroundFicus vasta Forssk. (Moraceae) is traditionally used for the treatment of various ailments; nonetheless, this species has been poorly studied to date. This work aimed to characterize the phenolic profile and to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of a hydroalcoholic extract obtained from F. vasta leaves collected in Egypt.MethodsThe phenolic profile of the extract was characterized by HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS. The antioxidant properties were examined by different in vitro systems: DPPH test, reducing power and metal chelating activity assays. Moreover, the ability of the extract to protect Escherichia coli growth and survival from H2O2-induced oxidative stress was evaluated. The potential toxicity was investigated using Artemia salina lethality bioassay. Finally, the antimicrobial properties against a representative set of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains and the yeast C. albicans were assayed by standard methods.ResultsBy HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS analysis 12 compounds belonging to the groups of phenolic acids and flavonoids were identified. The extract exhibited strong radical scavenging activity in DPPH test (IC50 = 0.0672 ± 0.0038 mg/mL), reducing power (3.65 ± 0.48 ASE/mL) and chelating activity (IC50 = 0.801 ± 0.007 mg/mL). A total protection against H2O2-induced damage on E. coli was observed. No toxicity against A. salina was found (LC50 > 1000 μg/mL). The extract exhibited bacteriostatic activity against almost all the bacteria tested (MICs: 250–62.5 μg/mL).ConclusionsThe obtained results demonstrate the potential of F. vasta leaves as safe sources of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds.

Isatis tinctoria L. (Woad): A Review of Its Botany, Ethnobotanical Uses, Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, and Biotechnological Studies

“…It is well known that polyphenols represent the main class of natural antioxidants, which act in different ways such as radical scavengers because phenolic groups are excellent nucleophiles and are also able to inhibit lipid peroxidation, as breakers of the oxidation reaction by binding with free radicals generated through lipid peroxidation, and as chelators of metal ions that induce oxidation [108]. Aimed at establishing the involvement of phenolic compounds in the antioxidant properties of I. tinctoria, recently, the polar extract obtained from the rosette leaves and also those from the cauline leaves and the flowers have been investigated by in vitro assays based on different mechanisms [47].…”

Phytochemical Profiling, In Vitro Biological Activities, and In-Silico Studies of Ficus vasta Forssk.: An Unexplored Plant

“…Ficus genus is medically important due to the presence of high value of total bioactive contents (TPC and TFC) [ 62 ]. Previously, some flavonoid compounds were identified in leaves of F. vasta [ 25 ]. The high value of total phenolic and flavonoid contents in plant extract correlates with the strong antioxidant activities [ 63 ].…”

“…According to the literature, the antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extract in aerial parts of F. vasta has not been reported, while the methanol extract of F. vasta leaves showed the antioxidant activity [ 25 ]. The results of the DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC activities showed that there is a direct link of antioxidant activities and the polyphenol contents (i.e., high value of phenolic and flavonoid contents correlates with the strong antioxidant activity) [ 63 ].…”

“…Some phytochemical constituents such as beta-sitosterol, lupeol, stigmasterol, and ursolic acid were isolated and identified from the ariel part of this plant [ 24 ]. Moreover, antioxidant and antibacterial activities are investigated in a hydro-methanolic extract of F. vasta leaves [ 25 ].…”

Perfil fitoquímico e atividade antioxidante de flores e frutos de Pereskia aculeata Miller

“…Sabe-se que os ácidos fenólicos e flavonoides são os compostos mais abundantes da classe fenólica vegetal [35,36]. O ácido caféico, o ácido p-cumárico, o ácido ferúlico e o Kaempferol também já haviam sido identificados em amostras de OPN, mais especificamente como constituintes dos extratos hidrometanólicos (30:70, v/v) das folhas de Pereskia aculeata Miller [37].…”