INVESTIGATION OF LIPOIDIAL CONTENTS AND THEIR ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF FORSSKAOLEA VIRIDIS ANDTRICHODESMA EHRENBERGII WILDLY DISTRIBUTED IN EGYPT

Taha A.I. El Bassossy1image, Fatma Ali Ahmed2

1Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Department, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.

21st Matariya Museum, Deserrt Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.

ABSTRACT 

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the antimicrobial activity and investigation of lipoidial contents of F. viridis and T. ehrenbergii wildly distributed in Gebel Elba, Southeast of Egypt for the first time. 

Methods: The phytochemical investigation of the ether extracts of F. viridis and T. ehrenbergii carried out by saponification of two lipoidial extracts and using gas chromatography (GC) with reference standards. The antimicrobial activity of the ether extract was performed as in vitro studies by diffusion agar technique for selected +ve and –ve gram bacterial and fungal strains with reference used drug as a control. 

Results: The findings of this study revealed that the two lipoidial extracts have sufficient steroidal and fatty acid methyl ester compounds  where F. viridis contain (22) hydrocarbons, (6) sterols and (14) fatty acid methyl esters while, T. ehrenbergii contain (20) hydrocarbons, (5) sterols and (17) fatty acids where β-amyrin and stigmasterol and palmitic and Tricyclicacid were the major concentration of steroid and fatty acid methyl ester contents of F. viridis and T. ehrenbergii respectively.The lipoidial extract of F. viridis and T. ehrenbergii showed potent antimicrobial activity against all tested strains as compared to reference used drug.

Conclusion: It can be elicited that the ethereal extracts of two plants have moderate antimicrobial activity against selected strains and need further studies to study the possibility of using the plant extracts as some strains of anti-bacterial and fungi-fighting drugs.

Keywords: Antimicrobial, F. viridis, Lipoidial extract, T. ehrenbergii.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Medicinal plants have been identified and used throughout human history. Plants make many chemical compounds that are for biological functions, including defense against insects, fungi and herbivorous mammals. The use of plants as medicine predates written human history. Many of the herbs and spices used by humans to season food also yield useful medicinal compounds. The use of herbs and spices in cuisine developed in part as a response to the threat of food-borne pathogens1.  Forsskaoleais a small genus in the Urticaceae family, represented by 6 species, distributed inover the world2,3.Trichodesma ehrenbergii is a small genus in Boraginaceae family where, is an annual erect herb, 15-45 cm high, densely short hairy 4.

The survey on the previous studies on the F. viridis and T. ehrenbergii plants showed no chemical and biological studies performed on it so, we aimed to investigate the active chemical constituents in addition to their biological activity 5,6,7,8. In this study we concerned to focus our study on the lipoidial extract  of the two plant extracts and its antimicrobial  activity to obtain about complete chemical and biological profile of two important plant species of two different families from same location Gebel Elba, Haliab, Southeast of Egypt.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 

Aerial parts of F. viridis  and T. ehrenbergii were collected from their wild habitat in wadikanthesrob, sarmati, Gebel Elba region, southeast corner of Egypt. The plant specimens were identified, authenticated and deposited in the herbarium of Desert Research Center (CAIH).

Preparation of lipoidial matter 

The air-dried powder of F. viridis and T. ehrenbergiiaerial parts (250 g) were exhaustively extracted separately by petroleum ether: di ethyl ether (1:1) using soxhlet continuous extraction until exhaustion. The solvent was evaporated at 40◦C under reduced pressure to give 24 g and 26 g residue of lipoidial matter 6,9.  

Preparation of the Unsaponifiable Matter

3 g of lipoidial matter of two plants were saponified by refluxing with 50 ml of 10% alcoholic potassium hydroxide solution for 6 hr followed by evaporating the alcohol, diluting with distilled water and extracting with ether exhaustively. The collected ethereal extract was washed with distilled water till being free from alkalinity, dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, and then evaporated to give 1.5 g unsaponifiable matter (USM) residue 6,9. 

Preparation of saponifiable matter (fatty acids)

The remaining saponifiable alkaline aqueous layer left after extraction of unsaponifiable matter with ether was acidified with hydrochloric acid (2 N) to liberate the free fatty acids, followed by extraction several times with ether. The ether extracts were washed three times with distilled water until neutralization, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The residual were kept for studying the fatty acid contents 10.

Preparation of fatty acid methyl esters 

The preparation of methyl esters of free fatty acids (0.6 g) was carried out by refluxing with 100 ml of absolute methanol and 5 ml sulphuric acid for 2 hr, The major part of alcohol was distilled off and the residue was solubilized with distilled water and then extracted several times with ether. The combined ether extracts were washed with distilled water, till the wash was free from any acidity then drying the ethereal layer concentrated and the residue was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate followed by evaporation of ether to give residue of the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and kept for GC  analysis 10.

GC analysis of the lipoidial matter conditions:

The saponifiable and unsaponifiable matter of aerial parts of the plant was carried by method described in11. Using Hewlett Packard hp 6890 Series Agilent Gas Chromatograph. Authentic samples according to the apparatus library from C10 to C32. With Capillary column hp-5 (5% diphenyl-95% dimethyl polysiloxane, 150 mm x 4mm), 2 ml/min of chart speed 80/280ºC for initial/Final time for 25 minutes.   

Antimicrobial Activity

Antimicrobial activity was determined by diffusion agar technique in Regional Center for Mycology and Biotechnology Al-Azhar university, Cairo, Egypt (RCMB) according to CLSI 11,12. Strains were obtained from the bacteria stock present at RCMB. Petri plates containing 20 ml of Nutrient (for bacteria) or Malt extract (for fungi), Agar medium were seeded with 1-3 day cultures of microbial inoculums (standardized inoculums 1-2 X 107cfu/ml 0.5Mcfarland standard). Wells (6 mm in diameter) were cut off into agar and 100μl of plant extracts were tested in a concentration of 5mg/ml and incubated at 37°C for 24 h (bacterial strains) and at 25°C for 7 days (fungal strains). The assessment of antimicrobial activity was based on measurement of the diameter of the inhibition zone formed around the well. Positive control used for fungi was ketoconazole with MIC 100 mg/ml, while positive control used for bacteria strains was gentamycin with MIC 4 mg/ml.

 

RESULTS AND DISSCUSSIONS

 

Investigation of  Saponifiable Matter Using GC

The data recorded in table (1) revealed that, there were 22 hydrocarbons beside 6 sterols and 20 hydrocarbons beside five sterols compounds were detected where, the highest concentration of the sterols was β-amyrin followed by β-sitosterol and stigmasterol followed by cholesterol of F. viridis and  T. ehernbergiiethereal extractrespectively, the high concentration of the phytosterols in the lipoidial extracts may be due to  their lipid metabolism inside the cell membrane of the plant through converting the lipoidial matters to compounds which have chemical structures of sterols, where they acts a vital role in cell membrane structure and utilities as a precursor to fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and steroid hormones 13. 

The highest percent of β-amyrin  and stigmasterol reflected to the medicinal importance of the two  plants respectively, where studies showed activity of β-amyrin and stigmasterol as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, human bladder cancer, breast and skin epidermoid anticancer 14 and as antiulcer15. prospective antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of β-amyrin and stigmasterol suggested that, it could be a probable compound for drug development effective in diabetes and atherosclerosis 16 While, The  relatively high percent of β-sitosterol and cholesterol in the lipoidial extract of F. viridis plays a vital role in pharmaceutical drugs used for enhancing sexual activity, treating benign prostatic hyperplasia, relieving symptoms of menopause, lowering of high bad blood cholesterol level by reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the body. Also, used for boosting the immune system and for preventing colon cancer, synthesis of cortisone as well as for gallstones 17,18 .

Investigation of  Saponifiable Matter Using GC:

The fatty acids methyl esters results represented in table (2) indicated that, there were 14 fatty acid methyl ester, 10 saturated beside 4 unsaturated and 16 fatty acid methyl ester, 13 saturated beside 4 unsaturated of both plants F. viridis and  T. ehrenbergii saponifiable extracts respectively, the investigation of saponifiable contents showed that the palmitic  and oleic acid  were major concentrations of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids methyl ethers of F. viridis respectively, and the tridecylic and γ-Linoleic revealed the major percent for saturated and unsaturated fatty acid of T. ehrenbergii respectively. The essential fatty acids have great value where, they give the body healthy value as contrary to what was previously believed  where, converted in the body by enzymes into long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs). Where γ-linolenic acid  (ω-6) which needed for the maintenance of hormonal balance and healthy skin structure. The existence  of essential unsaturated fatty acids in both plants; oleic acid (ω-9), linoelaidic acid (ω-6 trans fatty acid), α- linolenic (ω-3) and γ- linolenic acid (ω-6) refers to the importance of all ω-3, ω-6 and ω-9 fatty acids as dietary fats where, each one of them has a number of health benefits for your body by right balance between them, where the imbalance may contribute to a number of chronic diseases. Oleic acid (ω-9) fats are non-essential fats, since they can be produced by the body. The high relatively percent of oleic acid (ω-9) can qualify the plant in utilization for reducing plasma triglycerides by 19% and very-low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol by 22% in patients with diabetes 19, improved insulin sensitivity and decreased inflammation 20. The relatively high percent of α- linolenic (ω-3) and γ- linolenic acid (ω-6) reflected to the importance of the plant for reducing triglycerides, blood pressure and the formation of arterial plaques, decreasing liver fat, promoting bone health, preventing asthma and reducing a number of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis 21.On the other hand,  the two plants contains high percent of saturated  fatty  acid, palmitic acid which has a critical role in cellular membrane functionality by affecting their flexibility and permeability and it forms reversible links to cell membrane proteins, thus being involved in regulating the traffic of molecules in and out of cells and inter cells communication22. Palmitic acid is then the precursor of palmitoyl ethanol amide (PEA) compound which produced by our body with neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities23.

Antimicrobial activity 

The antimicrobial activity of the lipoidial extract of F. viridis and T. ehrenbergii showed potent  antibacterial activity against gram (+) ve (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus)with activity73%and 86% respectively, moderate activity against Streptococcus mutants and Micrococcus sp.) with activity 57.3, 57.3 and 59, 50%, respectively as compared with gentamicin as reference used drug. Also, it showed weak activity against all tested gram (-) ve bacteria and no activity against the tested filamentous fungi while, it showed moderate activity against yeasts fungi (Cryptococcus neoformans) with activity 64and 56 % respectively, as compared to ketoconazole as used reference drug. The moderate activity of the lipoidial extract may be due to its phytosterols contents which characterized with antimicrobial activity and fat-soluble vitamins which have ability to inhibit the activity of micro-organisms and acts in cell membrane and DNA of microbial strains [24]. From the previous obtained data the F. viridis show little improvement more than T. ehrenbergii as antimicrobial activity this is may be due to little changes in steroidal contents between them where the presence of  β- Amyrin in F. viridis and absence in T. ehrenbergii, Also the high percent of stigmasterol in T. ehernbergiimay be act more activity against Penicillium expansummore than F. viridis. so we can say as general the two plants extract have moderate activity against some of tested strains as showen in table 3.

 

CONCLUSION

 

The investigation of lipoidial contents of  F. viridisand T.ehrenbergii using (GC) revealed that, of F. viridis contain 22 hydrocarbons, 6 sterols and 14 fatty acid methyl ester whileT.ehrenbergii contain 21 hydrocarbons, 5 sterols and 16 fatty acid methyl esters. The in vitro antimicrobial  studies showed that moderate antimicrobial activity of two plants against most gram (-ve and + ve) bacteria while, weak and no activity of fungal strains while, the F.viridis showed little improvement than T.ehrenbergii. 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

 

The authors are thankful to the Department of medicinal and aromatic plants, desert research center, Egypt for giving consent and all sorts of supports to conduct the research. 

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST 

 

No conflict of interest associated with this work. 

 

AUTHOR'S CONTRIBUTION 

 

All authors have worked equally for this work.

 

 

REFERENCES

  1. Tapsell LC, Hemphill I,Cobiac L. Health benefits of herbs and spices: the past, the present, the future. Med J August 2006; 185.https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00548.x
  1. Kitikar KR, Basu BD, Singh B, Singh M. An ICS Indian Medical Plants, New Delhi, Secondedition, III 1975; 2291: 2298.
  2. AlfarhanAH, Al-Turki TA, Basahy AY. Flora of Jizan Region. Vol. 1, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) 2005.
  3. Alfarhan AH, Al-Turky TA,Basahy AY. In "Flora of Jizan Region". Final Report Supported by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2005; 1: 545.https://doi.org/10.1080/16583655.2019.1634177
  1. Ahmed FA, El-Mesallamy AMD, El-Bassossy TAI. Phytochemical analysis and biological evaluation of Forsskaolea viridis aerial parts. Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica - Drug Research 2019; 76(5): 815-823.https://doi.org/10.32383/appdr/108519
  1. Ahmed FA, El-Bassossy TAI. Active constituents and biological activity of methanolic extract of Forsskaolea viridis aerial parts. Asian J Pharm Clin Res 2020; 13 (3): 40-46.https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2020.v13i3.36503
  1. Ahmed FA, El-Mesallamy AMD, El-Bassossy TAI. Hepatoprotective and antitumor activity of phenolic content of Trichodesma ehrenbergii Schewienf. ex Boiss aerial parts. Wjpmr 2016; 2(4): 119-125.
  2. El-Mesllamy AMD, Ahmed FA, ELHawe MH, Ibrahim TA. Chemical investigation and evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Trichodesma ehrenbergii ex Boiss. growing at Gebel Elba region. Indo American J Pharm Sci 2015; 2(5): 947- 953.
  3. Johnson AR, Davenport JB. Biochemistry and Methodology of Lipids. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1971; 31-33.https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114509289082
  1. El-Said FM, Amer MM. Oils, Fats, Waxes and Surfactants. Cairo, Anglo-Egyptian Bookshop 1965; 130-131.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374114
  1. Vogel AJ. A Text Book of Practical Organic Chemistry, 3rd ed. English Language Book Society and Longman Group Ltd., London 1975; 969-971.https://doi.org/10.4236/ce.2019.104054
  1. CLSI, Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Disk Susceptibility Tests, Approved Standard, 7th, CLSI document M02-A11. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, 950 West Valley Road, Suite 2500, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087, USA, 2012.
  2. Kametani T, Furuyama H. Synthesis of vitamin D3 and related compounds. Med Res Rev 1987; 7 (2): 147-71.https://doi.org/10.1002/med.2610070202
  1. Wei H, Xinchi Y, Paula V. Sterol synthesis in diverse bacteria. Frontiers in Microbiology 2016; 7: 990-109.https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00990
  1. Csapi B, Zsuzsanna H, Zupkó I, Berényi A, Forgo P, Szabó P,Hohmann J. Bioactivity-guided isolation of antiproliferative compounds from Centaurea arenaria. Phytotherapia Research 2010; 24: 1664-69.https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3187
  1. Acevedo RH, Terrazas T, González , Guzmán Y, Hernández M. Anti-ulcer activity of Cyrtocarpa procera analogous to that of Amphipterygium adstringens, both assayed on the experimental gastric injury in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 2011; 134: 67-73.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2010.11.057
  1. Santos FA, Frota TJ, Arruda RB, et al. Antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of α, β-amyrin, a triterpenoid mixture from Protiumhepta phyllum in mice. Lipids in Health and Disease 2012; 11: 98-106.https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-511x-11-98
  1. Soy Infocenter.  History of Soybean and Soyfoods in Mexico and Central America. Extensively Annotated Bibliography and Sourcebook 2009; 1877. 
  2. Rakel DMD. Integrative Medicine, (4th). Elsevier, 2018; 1096-1123.
  3. Garg A. High-monounsaturated-fat diets for patients with diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 1998; 67(3): 577S-582S.https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/67.3.577s
  1. Finucane OM, Lyons CL, Murphy AM, and Reynolds CM. Monounsaturated fatty acid-enriched high-fat diets impede adipose NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated IL-1β secretion and insulin resistance despite obesity. Diabetes 2015; 64(6): 2116-28.https://doi.org/10.2337/db14-1098
  1. Simopoulos AP. The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomed Pharmacother 2002; 56(8): 365-379.https://doi.org/10.1016/s0753-3322(02)00253-6
  1. Hesselink JM, Hekker TA. Therapeutic utility of palmitoyl ethanolamide in the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with various pathological conditions: a case series. J. Pain Res 2012; 5: 437–442.https://doi.org/10.2147/jpr.s32143
  1. Hesselink JM, Hekker TA. Therapeutic utility of palmitoyl ethanolamide in the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with various pathological conditions: a case series. J Pain Res 2012; 5: 437–442.https://doi.org/10.2147/jpr.s32143