Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of Stipagrostis plumosa (Poaceae): Potential Implications for Human and Veterinary Health
Aug 2026· Biology· Vol 15· 0 citations· 30 references
Medicine
TL;DR
It is suggested that S. plumosa is a valuable source of naturally occurring bioactive compounds with potential applications in pharmaceutical, veterinary, and food-related fields and the importance of exploring underutilized desert plants as reservoirs of novel biologically active metabolites.
Abstract
Simple Summary Stipagrostis plumosa is a desert grass adapted to harsh environmental conditions and is widely used as forage for camels, sheep, and goats. Although it has long been recognized in traditional practices, its phytochemical composition and biological properties have received limited scientific attention. In this study, the phytochemical profile of S. plumosa was investigated together with its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. Different solvent extracts were evaluated against pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and clinical veterinary isolates, while their antioxidant capacity and cytotoxic effects on human cancer cell lines were also assessed. Among the tested extracts, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the strongest antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, whereas the chloroform fraction showed the highest cytotoxic activity. These findings suggest that S. plumosa is a valuable source of naturally occurring bioactive compounds with potential applications in pharmaceutical, veterinary, and food-related fields. The study also highlights the importance of exploring underutilized desert plants as reservoirs of novel biologically active metabolites.
Collectively, the available evidence indicates that C. colocynthis is a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical, veterinary, and ecological applications, although rigorous scientific validation is required before its safe and effective utilization can be recommended.
H. Al-Khalaifah, T. Al-Surrayai, S. Shreaz et al.· Biology· 0 citations
The accelerating global crisis of antimicrobial resistance and oxidative stress-related diseases has intensified the search for novel therapeutic agents derived from natural sources. Polyphenolic compounds, abundant in many medicinal plants, have emerged as key candidates due to their potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Ruta chalepensis L., a perennial species belonging to the Rutaceae family, is traditionally used in Mediterranean ethnomedicine for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and digestive properties. In Morocco, where phytotherapy forms a cornerstone of rural healthcare practices, this species remains underexplored despite its wide distribution across the Middle Atlas and Rif regions. The present study aims to determine the phytochemical profile and its biological activity of Moroccan R. chalepensis by conducting a comprehensive organ-specific analysis. Methanolic extracts from the plant’s flowers, leaves, and stems were evaluated for their total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) using the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods. Antioxidant potential was assessed through DPPH radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, while antibacterial activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9721, and Streptococcus sp. CCMM/B24 using disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) protocols. Among all plant parts, floral extracts exhibited the highest TPC (160 ± 2.38 mg GAE/g DW) and TFC (30.1 ± 1.32 mg QE/g DW), alongside superior antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 23.1 ± 1.15 μg/mL). Notably, Gram-positive strains showed greater susceptibility to the extracts, with S. aureus being the most affected. These results underscore the therapeutic potential of Ruta chalepensis, particularly from Moroccan chemotypes, as a valuable source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. They also reinforce the importance of valorizing Morocco’s endemic medicinal flora in addressing contemporary biomedical challenges.
Hajar Sadrati, Bouchra Ezahidi, A. Taha et al.· Journal of Multidisciplinary...· 0 citations
This review provides a comprehensive overview of the phytochemical composition, biological activities, and bioeconomic potential of five selected woody species occurring in the Karditsa region and identifies future research directions for the sustainable exploitation of selected woody flora from the Karditsa region.
Christos Chiolos, V. Athanasiadis, Ekaterini Koura et al.· Applied Sciences· 0 citations
Erythroxylum nummularium is a native Brazilian species with limited phytochemical and pharmacological characterization. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and biological properties of methanolic extracts and fractions obtained from the leaves, branches, stem bark, and stem of the plant. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total alkaloid content (TAT), and GC–MS profiling were combined with antioxidant (DPPH, β-carotene bleaching, TAC), antimicrobial, toxicological, and antinociceptive assays. The extracts exhibited substantial variation in TPC, TFC, and metabolite profiles, which strongly influenced their biological activities. The ethyl acetate fraction from the leaves (ELEN) showed the highest TPC and TFC, correlating with superior antioxidant performance, antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, low toxicity in Artemia salina, and significant antinociceptive effects in mice, with an LD50 above 2000 mg/kg. In the antioxidant assays, the ethyl acetate fraction from the stem bark (ESBEN) exhibited the highest overall activity, likely due to its elevated levels of highly polar phenolics and flavonoids. Among the fractions characterized by GC–MS, DSBEN, DLEN, and DBEN were the most active, with phenolic acids, their methylated derivatives, and low-molecular-weight organic acids contributing synergistically to antioxidant activity. These findings identify E. nummularium as a promising source of structurally diverse metabolites with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antinociceptive potential and support further investigation toward the development of natural bioactive agents.
Nilma Santos da Silva, Ícaro Tuyá Caires Amorim, Flávio Mendes de Souza et al.· Antioxidants· 0 citations
Background: The global escalation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and oxidative stress–mediated infections has intensified the demand for safe, cost-effective, and plant-derived therapeutic agents, particularly in veterinary and ethnomedicinal healthcare systems. Euphorbia hirta, a widely distributed traditional medicinal plant, is known for its pharmacological relevance but remains insufficiently explored in terms of comparative bioactivity across different plant parts and extraction solvents. This study was therefore undertaken to systematically evaluate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and antimicrobial activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts derived from the leaves, roots, and stems of E. hirta.
Methods: Leaves, roots, and stems of Euphorbia hirta were subjected to extraction using aqueous and methanolic solvents. The resulting extracts were evaluated for qualitative and quantitative phytochemical constituents, including phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, and steroids. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, with IC₅₀ determination. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method against clinically relevant bacterial strains, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Clostridium spp. Zones of inhibition were measured and compared across plant parts and solvent systems.
Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed that leaves contained the highest concentration of bioactive compounds, including phenolics (206.17 ± 3.21 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (37.97 ± 1.05 mg GAE/g), tannins (89.62 ± 2.13 mg GAE/g), saponins (3.25 ± 0.18%), alkaloids (6.15 ± 0.22%), and steroids (12.84 ± 0.56 mg/g), indicating strong biochemical richness. Antioxidant evaluation showed potent activity in leaf extracts, with DPPH radical scavenging of 72.96% and an IC₅₀ value of 0.803 mg/mL. Antimicrobial screening demonstrated that methanolic leaf extracts exhibited superior activity, particularly against Escherichia coli (18 mm) and Salmonella typhi (17 mm), compared to aqueous extracts (12–14 mm). Root extracts showed moderate antibacterial effects, with inhibition zones of 16 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 14 mm against both Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi. In contrast, stem extracts exhibited minimal to negligible activity, with no inhibition observed against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and Clostridium spp., and only weak activity against S. aureus (4 mm) and P. aeruginosa (6 mm). A strong correlation was observed between phenolic/flavonoid content, antioxidant potential, and antimicrobial efficacy, with methanolic extracts consistently outperforming aqueous extracts.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates that Euphorbia hirta, particularly its leaf fraction, possesses significant antioxidant and antimicrobial properties attributed to its rich phenolic and flavonoid content. Methanolic extraction proved more efficient in recovering bioactive compounds, resulting in enhanced biological activity. These findings validate the ethnomedicinal relevance of E. hirta and highlight its potential as a promising phytopharmaceutical candidate for managing oxidative stress–related infections. The study further supports sustainable natural drug discovery aligned with SDG-3 (Good Health and Well-Being), promoting the development of affordable plant-based therapeutic alternatives.
Sampathkumar K, Elumalai Pandian, Pavunraj Manickam et al.· European Journal of Microbio...· 0 citations
An updated overview of the botanical characteristics, geographical distribution, cultivation conditions, phytochemical composition, nutritional value, and biological activities of the plant, with particular emphasis on recent advances in nanoformulations, biomedical applications, hemocompatibility, and recent pharmacological advances are provided.
Bayansulu Otegenova, Gulzat Berganayeva, Bates Kudaibergenova et al.· Frontiers in Chemistry· 0 citations
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