First comprehensive compositional analysis of E. arborescens leaves with new insights into their potential as enzyme inhibitors

Abstract This work aims to determine the chemical composition of E. arborescens leaves for the first time, screening and quantifying various phytochemical compounds. The chemical composition revealed high levels of valuable nutrients, mainly ash (19.32%), which increases its nutritional value and of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Torchi Ayda, Ghamgui Hanen, Noumi Zouhaier, Cherif Slim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96266-2
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849332896779730944
author Torchi Ayda
Ghamgui Hanen
Noumi Zouhaier
Cherif Slim
author_facet Torchi Ayda
Ghamgui Hanen
Noumi Zouhaier
Cherif Slim
author_sort Torchi Ayda
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This work aims to determine the chemical composition of E. arborescens leaves for the first time, screening and quantifying various phytochemical compounds. The chemical composition revealed high levels of valuable nutrients, mainly ash (19.32%), which increases its nutritional value and offers health benefits. The phytochemical screening identified numerous secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds, phytosterols, and flavonoids. Quantification of photosynthetic pigments showed that chlorophyll a is dominant in the leaves. In addition, the methanolic extract of the leaves has inhibitory activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The methanolic leaf extract showed an IC50 of 0.04 mg/mL and an EC0.5 of 0.06 mg/mL for antioxidant activity as assessed by DPPH scavenging assay and iron reducing power respectively. The methanolic extract showed significantly higher reducing power than the aqueous extract. Both methanolic and aqueous leaf extracts exhibited α-amylase inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner with statistically significant differences in their IC50 values. Furthermore, the methanolic extract was as effective as acarbose in inhibiting porcine α-amylase with an IC50 of 0.06 mg/mL. It also showed dose-dependent inhibition of pancreatic lipase, with an IC50 of 0.92 mg/mL. Although the IC50 values were not statistically different, both aqueous and methanolic extracts also contained protease inhibitors. Therefore, these results suggest that E. arborescens leaf extracts may be useful for future drug applications, and further research is needed to investigate the mechanisms of enzyme inhibition.
format Article
id doaj-art-66cfc12905814d3dbeb38bdb9c09ed36
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-66cfc12905814d3dbeb38bdb9c09ed362025-08-20T03:46:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-96266-2First comprehensive compositional analysis of E. arborescens leaves with new insights into their potential as enzyme inhibitorsTorchi Ayda0Ghamgui Hanen1Noumi Zouhaier2Cherif Slim3Laboratory of Biochemistry and Enzymatic Engineering of Lipases, National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of SfaxLaboratory of Biochemistry and Enzymatic Engineering of Lipases, National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of SfaxFaculty of Sciences of Sfax, University of SfaxLaboratory of Biochemistry and Enzymatic Engineering of Lipases, National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of SfaxAbstract This work aims to determine the chemical composition of E. arborescens leaves for the first time, screening and quantifying various phytochemical compounds. The chemical composition revealed high levels of valuable nutrients, mainly ash (19.32%), which increases its nutritional value and offers health benefits. The phytochemical screening identified numerous secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds, phytosterols, and flavonoids. Quantification of photosynthetic pigments showed that chlorophyll a is dominant in the leaves. In addition, the methanolic extract of the leaves has inhibitory activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The methanolic leaf extract showed an IC50 of 0.04 mg/mL and an EC0.5 of 0.06 mg/mL for antioxidant activity as assessed by DPPH scavenging assay and iron reducing power respectively. The methanolic extract showed significantly higher reducing power than the aqueous extract. Both methanolic and aqueous leaf extracts exhibited α-amylase inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner with statistically significant differences in their IC50 values. Furthermore, the methanolic extract was as effective as acarbose in inhibiting porcine α-amylase with an IC50 of 0.06 mg/mL. It also showed dose-dependent inhibition of pancreatic lipase, with an IC50 of 0.92 mg/mL. Although the IC50 values were not statistically different, both aqueous and methanolic extracts also contained protease inhibitors. Therefore, these results suggest that E. arborescens leaf extracts may be useful for future drug applications, and further research is needed to investigate the mechanisms of enzyme inhibition.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96266-2Erodium arborescens leavesChemical compositionPhytochemical screeningAnd biological activities
spellingShingle Torchi Ayda
Ghamgui Hanen
Noumi Zouhaier
Cherif Slim
First comprehensive compositional analysis of E. arborescens leaves with new insights into their potential as enzyme inhibitors
Scientific Reports
Erodium arborescens leaves
Chemical composition
Phytochemical screening
And biological activities
title First comprehensive compositional analysis of E. arborescens leaves with new insights into their potential as enzyme inhibitors
title_full First comprehensive compositional analysis of E. arborescens leaves with new insights into their potential as enzyme inhibitors
title_fullStr First comprehensive compositional analysis of E. arborescens leaves with new insights into their potential as enzyme inhibitors
title_full_unstemmed First comprehensive compositional analysis of E. arborescens leaves with new insights into their potential as enzyme inhibitors
title_short First comprehensive compositional analysis of E. arborescens leaves with new insights into their potential as enzyme inhibitors
title_sort first comprehensive compositional analysis of e arborescens leaves with new insights into their potential as enzyme inhibitors
topic Erodium arborescens leaves
Chemical composition
Phytochemical screening
And biological activities
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96266-2
work_keys_str_mv AT torchiayda firstcomprehensivecompositionalanalysisofearborescensleaveswithnewinsightsintotheirpotentialasenzymeinhibitors
AT ghamguihanen firstcomprehensivecompositionalanalysisofearborescensleaveswithnewinsightsintotheirpotentialasenzymeinhibitors
AT noumizouhaier firstcomprehensivecompositionalanalysisofearborescensleaveswithnewinsightsintotheirpotentialasenzymeinhibitors
AT cherifslim firstcomprehensivecompositionalanalysisofearborescensleaveswithnewinsightsintotheirpotentialasenzymeinhibitors