Phytochemical, Cytotoxic, and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Tribulus terrestris L., Typha domingensis Pers., and Ricinus communis L.: Scientific Evidences for Folkloric Uses

Abstract

Many medicinal plants have been utilized for centuries despite the lack of scientific evidence of their therapeutic effects. This study evaluated the phytochemical and dual biological profiling, namely, antibacterial and cytotoxic properties, of three plant species, namely, Tribulus terrestris L., Typha domingensis Pers., and Ricinus communis L., in order to explore potential relationships (if any) with their ethnopharmacological uses. GC-MS was used to achieve phytochemical screening of two plant extracts (T. terrestris and T. domingensis). The primary chemicals detected in varying amounts in both extracts were siloxane derivatives, fatty acid esters, diisooctyl phthalate, phytosterol, and aromatic acid esters. According to the findings, the major component detected in both extracts was 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid and diisooctyl ester (antibacterial and antifungal). T. domingensis contained a low level of benzoic acid, methyl ester (antibacterial). Both extracts included stigmasterol and sitosterol, as well as six different forms of fatty acid esters. Antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, thyroid inhibitor, and anti-inflammatory properties have all been described. Human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7), human ovary adenocarcinoma (A2780), and human colon adenocarcinoma (HT29), as well as normal human fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC5), all showed cytotoxic activity. The most potent activity against A2780 cells was seen in T. terrestris and T. domingensis extracts (IC50: 3.69 and 5.87 g/mL, respectively). R. communis was more active against MCF7 cells (1.52 μg/mL) followed by A2780 and HT29 cells, respectively. R. communis showed a dose-dependent clonogenic effect against MCF7 cells. The antibacterial activity of all three plant extracts was tested against three standard Gram-positive, four standard Gram-negative, and two clinical bacterial strains. Among the three extracts examined, T. terrestris was the most effective, followed by R. communis, and finally, T. domingensis plant extract was effective against various isolated bacteria. This study, interestingly, sheds light on the bioactive components found in plant extracts that can be utilized for cytotoxic and antibacterial purposes.

Growth Performance, Histological Changes and Functional Tests of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Supplemented with Tribulus Terrestris Powder

“…Moreover, HPLC analysis showed that the major compound of TT was acetylsalicylic acid, in both ethanol and methanol extracts. The results of HPLC analysis of the chemical compounds in the extracts of TT in the current study agree with [ 1 , 2 ], who found that TT contains many pharmacologically active components belonging to flavonoids and phenols. However, the chemical composition of the extract varies depending on the extraction method and plant parts [ 38 , 39 ].…”

“…Medicinal herbal and aromatic plants have been a gaining interest in recent years as feed additives in poultry. Medicinal herbs can alter the active compounds in final products depending on the part used (e.g., seed, leaf, root, or bark) and the processing technique (e.g., extraction with non-aqueous solvents) [ 1 , 2 ]. Several studies in recent years have shown that the use of medicinal herbs as feed additives can improve the health, performance, and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens [ 3 , 4 , 5 ].…”

“…TT is extremely rich in substances with potential biological activity such as steroid glycosides (saponins), protodioscin, glycosides, alkaloids and flavonoids [ 10 ]. Additionally, Khalid et al [ 1 ] showed that the pharmacologically active components of TT belong to flavonoids and phenols. However, it is considered as an ingredient in the industrial production of medicinal preparations based on its saponin fraction [ 11 ].…”

Cytotoxic Activity of Herbal Medicines as Assessed in Vitro: A Review

“…Toxicity assays at the cellular level can be useful to reveal the potential risks associated with herbal extracts, [32] and also allow identification, analyses and test on a wide range of bioactive natural compounds. These efforts precede drug discovery and development of new anticancer agents, without adverse effects on normal healthy cells which is always limit the use of many anticancer drugs [33–35] . Cytotoxicity assays (CTAs) of herbal medicines are dependent on the concentration, mechanism of cytotoxicity, evaluation methods, cell type, components and exposure over time [36–39] .…”

In vitro evaluation of immunomodulatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer molecular mechanisms of Tribulus terrestris extracts

“…Its biological activity has been related to steroidal saponinsby inducing an apoptotic pathway in breast cancer cells. Trans-N-feruloyl-3-hydroxytyramine and trans-N-feruloyl-3-ethoxytyramine, have been shown to trigger apoptosis in leukemic cancer cells [8][9][10] .…”