Ruta montana L. from Morocco: comprehensive phytochemical analysis and exploration of its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties
Ruta montana L., a medicinal plant native to Morocco's Middle Atlas region, has been traditionally used for its therapeutic properties. This study aims to investigate its phytochemical composition and evaluate its biological and pharmacological activities, with a focus on its essential oil (EO)...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| author | Mohamed El Ouardi Mohamed El Ouardi Aziz Drioiche Aziz Drioiche Imane Tagnaout Aicha Benouahi Aicha Benouahi Omkulthom AL kamaly Abdelaaty Abdelaziz Shahat El Makhoukhi Fadoua El Makhoukhi Fadoua Handaq Nadia Sevser Sahpaz Touriya Zair Mohamed Alaoui Belghiti |
| author_facet | Mohamed El Ouardi Mohamed El Ouardi Aziz Drioiche Aziz Drioiche Imane Tagnaout Aicha Benouahi Aicha Benouahi Omkulthom AL kamaly Abdelaaty Abdelaziz Shahat El Makhoukhi Fadoua El Makhoukhi Fadoua Handaq Nadia Sevser Sahpaz Touriya Zair Mohamed Alaoui Belghiti |
| author_sort | Mohamed El Ouardi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ruta montana L., a medicinal plant native to Morocco's Middle Atlas region, has been traditionally used for its therapeutic properties. This study aims to investigate its phytochemical composition and evaluate its biological and pharmacological activities, with a focus on its essential oil (EO) and phenolic extracts. The essential oil was extracted via hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC-MS to determine its chemical composition. Aqueous, hydro-ethanolic, and hydro-methanolic extracts were prepared and analyzed for their polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin content using spectrophotometric methods and HPLC/UV ESI-MS. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays, while antioxidant potential was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging method. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects were tested using abdominal writhing and edema inhibition models, respectively. Subacute toxicity was assessed by monitoring organ weights and biochemical parameters in treated animals. The EO was predominantly composed of 2-undecanone (81.16%) and decyl propanoate (9.33%). Phenolic extracts were rich in rosmarinic acid 3′-glucoside, p-coumaroylquinic acid, quercitrin, ferulic acid, and embelin. The EO exhibited strong antimicrobial activity (MIC = 2.34–37.5 mg/mL), particularly against Aspergillus niger, and significant analgesic effects (44.55% reduction in abdominal writhing at 0.2 mL), outperforming the aqueous extract (23.37%). Phenolic extracts demonstrated notable antioxidant activity (IC50 = 117.24 μg/mL in DPPH), while the EO showed moderate antioxidant potential (IC50 = 29.42 μg/mL; BHT = 1.62 μg/mL). Anti-inflammatory assays revealed that both the EO (71% inhibition at 0.2 mL) and aqueous extract (79% inhibition at 300 mg/kg) were comparable to indomethacin. Subacute toxicity tests indicated no significant organ weight changes, although slight increases in hepatic AST (91.33 U/L) and creatinine (2.36 mg/L) were observed at higher doses. These findings highlight R. montana's potential as a natural source of antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory agents. The EO, in particular, shows promise as a therapeutic alternative. However, further studies are needed to evaluate its long-term safety and efficacy. R. montana demonstrates significant pharmacological potential, particularly its essential oil, which warrants further investigation for therapeutic applications. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-2646 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-4fb1221bb0aa45f7b745ed119c65d42a2025-08-20T02:39:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Chemistry2296-26462025-06-011310.3389/fchem.2025.16149841614984Ruta montana L. from Morocco: comprehensive phytochemical analysis and exploration of its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic propertiesMohamed El Ouardi0Mohamed El Ouardi1Aziz Drioiche2Aziz Drioiche3Imane Tagnaout4Aicha Benouahi5Aicha Benouahi6Omkulthom AL kamaly7Abdelaaty Abdelaziz Shahat8El Makhoukhi Fadoua9El Makhoukhi Fadoua10Handaq Nadia11Sevser Sahpaz12Touriya Zair13Mohamed Alaoui Belghiti14Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modelling, Materials, Nanomaterial, Water and Environment, CERNE2D, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V, University in Rabat, Rabat, MoroccoResearch Team of Chemistry of Bioactive Molecules and the Environment, Laboratory of Innovative Materials and Biotechnology of Natural Resources, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismaïl University, Meknes, MoroccoLaboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modelling, Materials, Nanomaterial, Water and Environment, CERNE2D, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V, University in Rabat, Rabat, MoroccoHigher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques of Fez, Regional Health Directorate Fez-Meknes, EL Ghassani Hospital, Fez, MoroccoResearch Team of Chemistry of Bioactive Molecules and the Environment, Laboratory of Innovative Materials and Biotechnology of Natural Resources, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismaïl University, Meknes, MoroccoLaboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modelling, Materials, Nanomaterial, Water and Environment, CERNE2D, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V, University in Rabat, Rabat, MoroccoResearch Team of Chemistry of Bioactive Molecules and the Environment, Laboratory of Innovative Materials and Biotechnology of Natural Resources, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismaïl University, Meknes, MoroccoDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaPharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaLaboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modelling, Materials, Nanomaterial, Water and Environment, CERNE2D, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V, University in Rabat, Rabat, MoroccoResearch Team of Chemistry of Bioactive Molecules and the Environment, Laboratory of Innovative Materials and Biotechnology of Natural Resources, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismaïl University, Meknes, MoroccoResearch Team of Chemistry of Bioactive Molecules and the Environment, Laboratory of Innovative Materials and Biotechnology of Natural Resources, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismaïl University, Meknes, MoroccoUniversity Lille, University of Liège, University of Picardie Jules Verne, JUNIA, UMRT 1158 BioEcoAgro, Specialized Metabolites of Plant Origin, Lille, FranceResearch Team of Chemistry of Bioactive Molecules and the Environment, Laboratory of Innovative Materials and Biotechnology of Natural Resources, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismaïl University, Meknes, MoroccoLaboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modelling, Materials, Nanomaterial, Water and Environment, CERNE2D, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V, University in Rabat, Rabat, MoroccoRuta montana L., a medicinal plant native to Morocco's Middle Atlas region, has been traditionally used for its therapeutic properties. This study aims to investigate its phytochemical composition and evaluate its biological and pharmacological activities, with a focus on its essential oil (EO) and phenolic extracts. The essential oil was extracted via hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC-MS to determine its chemical composition. Aqueous, hydro-ethanolic, and hydro-methanolic extracts were prepared and analyzed for their polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin content using spectrophotometric methods and HPLC/UV ESI-MS. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays, while antioxidant potential was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging method. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects were tested using abdominal writhing and edema inhibition models, respectively. Subacute toxicity was assessed by monitoring organ weights and biochemical parameters in treated animals. The EO was predominantly composed of 2-undecanone (81.16%) and decyl propanoate (9.33%). Phenolic extracts were rich in rosmarinic acid 3′-glucoside, p-coumaroylquinic acid, quercitrin, ferulic acid, and embelin. The EO exhibited strong antimicrobial activity (MIC = 2.34–37.5 mg/mL), particularly against Aspergillus niger, and significant analgesic effects (44.55% reduction in abdominal writhing at 0.2 mL), outperforming the aqueous extract (23.37%). Phenolic extracts demonstrated notable antioxidant activity (IC50 = 117.24 μg/mL in DPPH), while the EO showed moderate antioxidant potential (IC50 = 29.42 μg/mL; BHT = 1.62 μg/mL). Anti-inflammatory assays revealed that both the EO (71% inhibition at 0.2 mL) and aqueous extract (79% inhibition at 300 mg/kg) were comparable to indomethacin. Subacute toxicity tests indicated no significant organ weight changes, although slight increases in hepatic AST (91.33 U/L) and creatinine (2.36 mg/L) were observed at higher doses. These findings highlight R. montana's potential as a natural source of antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory agents. The EO, in particular, shows promise as a therapeutic alternative. However, further studies are needed to evaluate its long-term safety and efficacy. R. montana demonstrates significant pharmacological potential, particularly its essential oil, which warrants further investigation for therapeutic applications.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2025.1614984/fullRuta montana2-undecanonerosmarinic acid 3′-glucosidep-Coumaroylquinic acidquercitrinantioxidant |
| spellingShingle | Mohamed El Ouardi Mohamed El Ouardi Aziz Drioiche Aziz Drioiche Imane Tagnaout Aicha Benouahi Aicha Benouahi Omkulthom AL kamaly Abdelaaty Abdelaziz Shahat El Makhoukhi Fadoua El Makhoukhi Fadoua Handaq Nadia Sevser Sahpaz Touriya Zair Mohamed Alaoui Belghiti Ruta montana L. from Morocco: comprehensive phytochemical analysis and exploration of its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties Frontiers in Chemistry Ruta montana 2-undecanone rosmarinic acid 3′-glucoside p-Coumaroylquinic acid quercitrin antioxidant |
| title | Ruta montana L. from Morocco: comprehensive phytochemical analysis and exploration of its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties |
| title_full | Ruta montana L. from Morocco: comprehensive phytochemical analysis and exploration of its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties |
| title_fullStr | Ruta montana L. from Morocco: comprehensive phytochemical analysis and exploration of its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ruta montana L. from Morocco: comprehensive phytochemical analysis and exploration of its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties |
| title_short | Ruta montana L. from Morocco: comprehensive phytochemical analysis and exploration of its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties |
| title_sort | ruta montana l from morocco comprehensive phytochemical analysis and exploration of its antioxidant antimicrobial anti inflammatory and analgesic properties |
| topic | Ruta montana 2-undecanone rosmarinic acid 3′-glucoside p-Coumaroylquinic acid quercitrin antioxidant |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2025.1614984/full |
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