Investigation of Bioactive Compounds Extracted from <i>Verbena officinalis</i> and Their Biological Effects in the Extraction by Four Butanol/Ethanol Solvent Combinations

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: <i>Verbena officinalis</i> L. (common vervain) is a medicinal plant traditionally used and investigated in phytotherapy for its neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aims to investigate the phytochemical diver...

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Main Authors: Dejan Stojković, Nikoleta Đorđevski, Mladen Rajaković, Biljana Filipović, Jelena Božunović, Stefani Bolevich, Gokhan Zengin, Sergey Bolevich, Uroš Gašić, Marina Soković
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/1012
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author Dejan Stojković
Nikoleta Đorđevski
Mladen Rajaković
Biljana Filipović
Jelena Božunović
Stefani Bolevich
Gokhan Zengin
Sergey Bolevich
Uroš Gašić
Marina Soković
author_facet Dejan Stojković
Nikoleta Đorđevski
Mladen Rajaković
Biljana Filipović
Jelena Božunović
Stefani Bolevich
Gokhan Zengin
Sergey Bolevich
Uroš Gašić
Marina Soković
author_sort Dejan Stojković
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: <i>Verbena officinalis</i> L. (common vervain) is a medicinal plant traditionally used and investigated in phytotherapy for its neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aims to investigate the phytochemical diversity and biological activity of <i>V. officinalis</i> extracts prepared with different ratios of butanol and ethanol. <b>Methods:</b> Aerial parts of <i>V. officinalis</i> were extracted using four solvent systems: 100% butanol (B1), 75:25 (BE7.5), 50:50 (BE5), and 25:75 (BE2.5) butanol:ethanol mixtures. Metabolite profiling was conducted using liquid chromatography–high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS). Antioxidant activities were evaluated through six assays: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), cupric ion-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), metal-chelating ability (MCA), and the phosphomolybdenum assay (PMA). Enzyme inhibition assays targeted acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, and α-amylase. Antibacterial activity against <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> was tested via microdilution, while dominant phytochemicals were evaluated for binding affinity through molecular docking. <b>Results:</b> Seventy-five compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, iridoids, phenylethanoids, and xanthones, were identified. BE5 extract exhibited the highest total phenolic content and strongest antioxidant capacity, while BE2.5 demonstrated the greatest antibacterial and metal-chelating effects. All extracts showed comparable AChE inhibition, with BE5 achieving the strongest tyrosinase and α-amylase inhibition. Docking studies confirmed high binding affinities of luteolin glucuronides to human and bacterial target enzymes. <b>Conclusions:</b> Solvent composition markedly influenced the chemical and biological profiles of <i>V. officinalis</i> extracts. BE5 and BE2.5 emerged as promising systems for obtaining bioactive fractions with therapeutic potential.
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spelling doaj-art-d1399f3fafe845e88d2e737102a0101e2025-08-20T02:47:07ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472025-07-01187101210.3390/ph18071012Investigation of Bioactive Compounds Extracted from <i>Verbena officinalis</i> and Their Biological Effects in the Extraction by Four Butanol/Ethanol Solvent CombinationsDejan Stojković0Nikoleta Đorđevski1Mladen Rajaković2Biljana Filipović3Jelena Božunović4Stefani Bolevich5Gokhan Zengin6Sergey Bolevich7Uroš Gašić8Marina Soković9Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute of Microbiology, Medical Military Academy, Crnotravska 17, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Pathologic Physiology, First Moscow State Medical University I.M. Sechenov (Sechenov University), Trubetskaya Street, House 8, Building 2, 119991 Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Biology, Science Faculty, Selcuk University, Campus-Konya, 42250 Konya, TurkeyDepartment of Pathologic Physiology, First Moscow State Medical University I.M. Sechenov (Sechenov University), Trubetskaya Street, House 8, Building 2, 119991 Moscow, RussiaInstitute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11108 Belgrade, Serbia<b>Background/Objectives</b>: <i>Verbena officinalis</i> L. (common vervain) is a medicinal plant traditionally used and investigated in phytotherapy for its neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aims to investigate the phytochemical diversity and biological activity of <i>V. officinalis</i> extracts prepared with different ratios of butanol and ethanol. <b>Methods:</b> Aerial parts of <i>V. officinalis</i> were extracted using four solvent systems: 100% butanol (B1), 75:25 (BE7.5), 50:50 (BE5), and 25:75 (BE2.5) butanol:ethanol mixtures. Metabolite profiling was conducted using liquid chromatography–high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS). Antioxidant activities were evaluated through six assays: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), cupric ion-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), metal-chelating ability (MCA), and the phosphomolybdenum assay (PMA). Enzyme inhibition assays targeted acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, and α-amylase. Antibacterial activity against <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> was tested via microdilution, while dominant phytochemicals were evaluated for binding affinity through molecular docking. <b>Results:</b> Seventy-five compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, iridoids, phenylethanoids, and xanthones, were identified. BE5 extract exhibited the highest total phenolic content and strongest antioxidant capacity, while BE2.5 demonstrated the greatest antibacterial and metal-chelating effects. All extracts showed comparable AChE inhibition, with BE5 achieving the strongest tyrosinase and α-amylase inhibition. Docking studies confirmed high binding affinities of luteolin glucuronides to human and bacterial target enzymes. <b>Conclusions:</b> Solvent composition markedly influenced the chemical and biological profiles of <i>V. officinalis</i> extracts. BE5 and BE2.5 emerged as promising systems for obtaining bioactive fractions with therapeutic potential.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/1012<i>Verbena officinalis</i>LC-HRMS/MSantioxidant activityenzyme inhibitionmolecular dockingantimicrobial activity
spellingShingle Dejan Stojković
Nikoleta Đorđevski
Mladen Rajaković
Biljana Filipović
Jelena Božunović
Stefani Bolevich
Gokhan Zengin
Sergey Bolevich
Uroš Gašić
Marina Soković
Investigation of Bioactive Compounds Extracted from <i>Verbena officinalis</i> and Their Biological Effects in the Extraction by Four Butanol/Ethanol Solvent Combinations
Pharmaceuticals
<i>Verbena officinalis</i>
LC-HRMS/MS
antioxidant activity
enzyme inhibition
molecular docking
antimicrobial activity
title Investigation of Bioactive Compounds Extracted from <i>Verbena officinalis</i> and Their Biological Effects in the Extraction by Four Butanol/Ethanol Solvent Combinations
title_full Investigation of Bioactive Compounds Extracted from <i>Verbena officinalis</i> and Their Biological Effects in the Extraction by Four Butanol/Ethanol Solvent Combinations
title_fullStr Investigation of Bioactive Compounds Extracted from <i>Verbena officinalis</i> and Their Biological Effects in the Extraction by Four Butanol/Ethanol Solvent Combinations
title_full_unstemmed Investigation of Bioactive Compounds Extracted from <i>Verbena officinalis</i> and Their Biological Effects in the Extraction by Four Butanol/Ethanol Solvent Combinations
title_short Investigation of Bioactive Compounds Extracted from <i>Verbena officinalis</i> and Their Biological Effects in the Extraction by Four Butanol/Ethanol Solvent Combinations
title_sort investigation of bioactive compounds extracted from i verbena officinalis i and their biological effects in the extraction by four butanol ethanol solvent combinations
topic <i>Verbena officinalis</i>
LC-HRMS/MS
antioxidant activity
enzyme inhibition
molecular docking
antimicrobial activity
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/1012
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