Biological Activities, Chemical Composition and Molecular Docking of Urelytrum giganteum Pilg
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The growing interest in health-promoting food options has highlighted the need to explore new sources with unique nutritional compositions. Plants are rich sources of bioactive compounds with biological effects. Urelytrum giganteum Pilg is a perennial wild tufted grass that grows in dry tropical African countries. Traditionally, it has been used to treat several diseases, however, up to date, no study has been done on this plant. This study analyzed the solvent extraction of Urelytrum giganteum Pilg, a perennial wild tufted grass in dry tropical African countries, to determine its proximate analysis, antioxidant potential, chemical composition, antimicrobial efficacy, and molecular docking. The Soxhlet extraction method was employed, and the obtained extracts were subjected to phytochemical evaluation, DPPH radical scavenging activity, a scavenging assay of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), disk diffusion evaluation and molecular docking studies. The phytochemicals identified included alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenolic substances, tannins, carbohydrates, terpenes, and C-glycosides. The ethanol extract showed the highest activity in terms of DPPH (70.2 μg/mL), H2O2 (60.7 μg/mL), and alpha glycosidase (72.3 μg/mL) activities and antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae (17 mm). Most of the phytochemicals demonstrated notable inhibitory activity, with Stigmasterol showing the highest inhibition score. This underscores the potential of U. giganteum as a promising nominee for the pharmaceutical industry. The identified phytochemical and antioxidant compounds could be promising nutraceuticals or food additives for overall well-being.
Source: Acta chimica slovenica
Authors: Abdulrahaman Mahmoud Dogara, Sawsan Sadiq Al-Rawi, Ateeq Ahmed Al-Zahrani, Abubakar Abdullahi Lema, Aisha Abdullahi Mahmud, Hasan Nudin Nur Fatihah, Iliyasu Uwaisu, Hussain Daifallah Almalki
Institutions: Tishk International University, Umm al-Qura University
Language: English
Topic: Medicinal Plant Research
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4408259784