ISOLATION, STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION, AND COMPUTATIONAL EVALUATION OF 1-HEPTACOSANOL FROM CAYRATIA TRIFOLIA L. AS A MULTITARGET ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENT

Abstract

Objectives: Inflammation is a natural response of the body that protects against toxins and tissue injury; if uncontrolled, it can lead to chronic illnesses. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of treatment modalities that are safe and effective. Natural compounds from medicinal plants are being widely investigated as alternatives to synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs due to their lower side effects. The main objective of the study was to isolate the bioactive compounds from the stem ethanolic extract of Cayratia trifolia L. Methods: The bioactive compound was purified by column chromatography, and its structure was confirmed by ultraviolet-visible, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Molecular docking studies were performed to assess the interaction of the compound with vital inflammatory targets such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10. Results: The isolated bioactive compound, 1-Heptacosanol, showed predicted favorable binding interactions with COX-2, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 receptors, which denotes its ability to regulate inflammation via modulating both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory pathways. Conclusion: This study indicated that the compound possessed potent anti-inflammatory activity; however, further in vitro and in vivo investigations are required to affirm its efficacy and safety profile.