Skip to content
2000
Volume 24, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 2211-3525
  • E-ISSN: 2211-3533

Abstract

Introduction

, commonly known as European Dentellary, has been traditionally used across various cultures to treat numerous ailments. This study aims to explore the therapeutic potential of this plant, focusing on its chemical composition and biomedical applications.

Objeictive

The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical composition of the hexane extract from the roots of and evaluate its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and hemolytic activities.

Methods

The chemical profile of the hexane root extract of was analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the disc diffusion and micro-well dilution methods. The anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated through the egg albumin denaturation assay. Hemolytic activity was measured by assessing erythrocyte lysis in human blood samples.

Results and Discussion

Chemical analysis of the hexane extract identified nine compounds, with plumbagin (58.4%) being the most abundant, followed by nonanal (16.6%). The antimicrobial assay demonstrated significant growth inhibition against several bacterial strains, including , , and the yeast . The anti-inflammatory tests indicated that the hexane extract exhibited potent activity, with an IC of 12.3 μg/mL, surpassing diclofenac (IC: 35.2 μg/mL). Hemolysis tests revealed minimal erythrocyte damage, with a hemolytic rate of only 12.86%, even at higher concentrations.

Conclusion

The hexane extract from roots demonstrates promising antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities with minimal toxicity to human erythrocytes. However, further studies are needed to validate these findings and explore the plant's potential for pharmaceutical development.

© 2026 Bentham Science Publishers
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/aia/10.2174/0122113525370624250616104436
2025-06-23
2026-03-09

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/aia/10.2174/0122113525370624250616104436
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. MurrayC.J.L. IkutaK.S. ShararaF. SwetschinskiL. AguilarR.G. GrayA. HanC. BisignanoC. RaoP. WoolE. JohnsonS.C. BrowneA.J. ChipetaM.G. FellF. HackettS. Haines-WoodhouseG. HamadaniK.B.H. KumaranE.A.P. McManigalB. AchalapongS. AgarwalR. AkechS. AlbertsonS. AmuasiJ. AndrewsJ. AravkinA. AshleyE. BabinF-X. BaileyF. BakerS. BasnyatB. BekkerA. BenderR. BerkleyJ.A. BethouA. BielickiJ. BoonkasidechaS. BukosiaJ. CarvalheiroC. Castañeda-OrjuelaC. ChansamouthV. ChaurasiaS. ChiurchiùS. ChowdhuryF. DonatienC.R. CookA.J. CooperB. CresseyT.R. Criollo-MoraE. CunninghamM. DarboeS. DayN.P.J. LucaD.M. DokovaK. DramowskiA. DunachieS.J. BichD.T. EckmannsT. EibachD. EmamiA. FeaseyN. Fisher-PearsonN. ForrestK. GarciaC. GarrettD. GastmeierP. GirefA.Z. GreerR.C. GuptaV. HallerS. HaselbeckA. HayS.I. HolmM. HopkinsS. HsiaY. IregbuK.C. JacobsJ. JarovskyD. JavanmardiF. JenneyA.W.J. KhoranaM. KhusuwanS. KissoonN. KobeissiE. KostyanevT. KrappF. KrumkampR. KumarA. KyuH.H. LimC. LimK. LimmathurotsakulD. LoftusM.J. LunnM. MaJ. ManoharanA. MarksF. MayJ. MayxayM. MturiN. Munera-HuertasT. MusichaP. MusilaL.A. Mussi-PinhataM.M. NaiduR.N. NakamuraT. NanavatiR. NangiaS. NewtonP. NgounC. NovotneyA. NwakanmaD. ObieroC.W. OchoaT.J. Olivas-MartinezA. OlliaroP. OokoE. Ortiz-BrizuelaE. OunchanumP. PakG.D. ParedesJ.L. PelegA.Y. PerroneC. PheT. PhommasoneK. PlakkalN. Ponce-de-LeonA. RaadM. RamdinT. RattanavongS. RiddellA. RobertsT. RobothamJ.V. RocaA. RosenthalV.D. RuddK.E. RussellN. SaderH.S. SaengchanW. SchnallJ. ScottJ.A.G. SeekaewS. SharlandM. ShivamallappaM. Sifuentes-OsornioJ. SimpsonA.J. SteenkesteN. StewardsonA.J. StoevaT. TasakN. ThaiprakongA. ThwaitesG. TigoiC. TurnerC. TurnerP. DoornV.H.R. VelaphiS. VongpradithA. VongsouvathM. VuH. WalshT. WalsonJ.L. WanerS. WangrangsimakulT. WannapinijP. WozniakT. SharmaY.T.E.M.W. YuK.C. ZhengP. SartoriusB. LopezA.D. StergachisA. MooreC. DolecekC. NaghaviM. Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: A systematic analysis.Lancet20223991032562965510.1016/S0140‑6736(21)02724‑0 35065702
     [Google Scholar]
  2. World Health Organization (WHO) Antimicrobial resistance.2023Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance
  3. SriutthaP. SirichanchuenB. PermsuwanU. Hepatotoxicity of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Int. J. Hepatol.2018201811310.1155/2018/5253623 29568654
     [Google Scholar]
  4. FrankL. LambertK. Use of complementary and alternative therapies in people with inflammatory bowel disease.Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health2024219114010.3390/ijerph21091140 39338023
     [Google Scholar]
  5. AngeliniP. Plant-derived antimicrobials and their crucial role in combating antimicrobial resistance.Antibiotics202413874610.3390/antibiotics13080746 39200046
     [Google Scholar]
  6. TakóM. KerekesE.B. ZambranoC. KotogánA. PappT. KrischJ. VágvölgyiC. Plant phenolics and phenolic-enriched extracts as antimicrobial agents against food-contaminating microorganisms.Antioxidants20209216510.3390/antiox9020165 32085580
     [Google Scholar]
  7. GuptaA. GuptaR. Efficacy of phytochemicals as potential antimicrobial agents.J. Med. Plants Stud201751116121
     [Google Scholar]
  8. VassiliouE. AwoleyeO. DavisA. MishraS. Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of thyme oil and its main constituents.Int. J. Mol. Sci.2023248693610.3390/ijms24086936 37108100
     [Google Scholar]
  9. MagryśA. OlenderA. TchórzewskaD. Antibacterial properties of Allium sativum L. against the most emerging multidrug-resistant bacteria and its synergy with antibiotics.Arch. Microbiol.202120352257226810.1007/s00203‑021‑02248‑z 33638666
     [Google Scholar]
  10. GadnayakA. DehuryB. NayakA. JenaS. SahooA. PandaP.C. RayA. NayakS. ‘Mechanistic insights into 5-lipoxygenase inhibition by active principles derived from essential oils of Curcuma species: Molecular docking, ADMET analysis and molecular dynamic simulation study.PLoS One2022177e027195610.1371/journal.pone.0271956 35867724
     [Google Scholar]
  11. GandhiG.R. VasconcelosA.B.S. HaranG.H. CalistoV.K.S. JothiG. QuintansJ.S.S. CuevasL.E. NarainN. JúniorL.J.Q. CipolottiR. GurgelR.Q. Essential oils and its bioactive compounds modulating cytokines: A systematic review on anti-asthmatic and immunomodulatory properties.Phytomedicine202073152854-, 73, 15285410.1016/j.phymed.2019.152854 31036393
     [Google Scholar]
  12. MichelP. OlszewskaM.A. Phytochemistry and biological profile of Gaultheria procumbens L. and wintergreen essential oil: From traditional application to molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets.Int. J. Mol. Sci.202425156510.3390/ijms25010565 38203735
     [Google Scholar]
  13. AleemM. Anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial potential of Plumbago zeylanica L.: A review.J. Drug Deliv. Ther.2020105-s22923510.22270/jddt.v10i5‑s.4445
     [Google Scholar]
  14. SinghK. NaidooY. BaijnathH. Baijnath. A comprehensive review on the genus Plumbago with focus on Plumbago auriculata (plumbaginaceae).Afr. J. Tradit. Complement. Altern. Med.201715119921510.21010/ajtcam.v15i1.21
     [Google Scholar]
  15. SerrilliA.M. SanfilippoV. BalleroM. SannaC. PoliF. ScartezziniP. SerafiniM. BiancoA. Polar and antioxidant fraction of Plumbago europaea L., a spontaneous plant of Sardinia.Nat. Prod. Res.201024763363910.1080/14786410902941329 20401795
     [Google Scholar]
  16. NavaeiM.N. MirzaM. DiniM. Chemical composition of the essential oil ofPlumbago europaea L. roots from Iran.Flavour Fragrance J.200520221321410.1002/ffj.1384
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI)Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing.32nd edWayne, PA, USACLSI2022
     [Google Scholar]
  18. ElshikhM. AhmedS. FunstonS. DunlopP. McGawM. MarchantR. BanatI.M. Resazurin-based 96-well plate microdilution method for the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration of biosurfactants.Biotechnol. Lett.20163861015101910.1007/s10529‑016‑2079‑2 26969604
     [Google Scholar]
  19. KumarasingheN. DharmadevaS. GalgamuwaL.S. PrasadinieC. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Ficus racemosa L. bark using albumin denaturation method.AYU201839423924210.4103/ayu.AYU_27_18 31367147
     [Google Scholar]
  20. BenhamidatL. DibM.E.A. BensaidO. KenicheA. ouar, I.E.; Muselli, A. Chemical composition and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of hexane extracts from the roots of Centaurea acaulis and Centaurea pullata.Antiinfect. Agents2022205e10062220583110.2174/2211352520666220610113750
     [Google Scholar]
  21. SæbøI. BjøråsM. FranzykH. HelgesenE. BoothJ. Optimization of the hemolysis assay for the assessment of cytotoxicity.Int. J. Mol. Sci.2023243291410.3390/ijms24032914 36769243
     [Google Scholar]
  22. MuhammadH.M. SaourK.Y. NaqishbandiA.M. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of plumbagin in the leaf and root of Plumbago europaea growing naturally in kurdistan by HPLC.Iraqi J. Pharm Sci.200918Suppl.545910.31351/vol18issSuppl.pp54‑59
     [Google Scholar]
  23. KaddourF. AissaouiN. DibM.E.A. BensaidO. MuselliA. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oil and hydrosol extract from roots of Plumbago europaea and in-vitro combinatory antimicrobial effect of hydrosol extract with gentamicin and amphotericin B.Nat. Prod. J.202111218219210.2174/2210315510666200110154053
     [Google Scholar]
  24. HasanM. HwijaI. MossaY. Essential oils from Plumbago europaea L. aerial parts (leaves, flowers): GC-MS analyses and literature biological properties.Nat. Prod. Res.202539234135010.1080/14786419.2023.2265537 37800169
     [Google Scholar]
  25. DrioicheA. AmineS. boutahiriS. SaidiS. AilliA. RhafouriR. MahjoubiM. HilaliE.F. MouradiA. EtoB. ZairT. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of essential oils and phenolic extracts from the aerial parts of Ruta montana L. of the middle atlas-Mountains-Morocco.J. Essent. Oil-Bear. Plants202023590291710.1080/0972060X.2020.1829995
     [Google Scholar]
  26. DrioicheA. RadiZ.F. AilliA. BouzoubaaA. BoutakioutA. MekdadS. KamalyA.O. SalehA. MaoulouaM. BoustaD. SahpazS. MakhoukhiA.F. ZairT. Correlation between the chemical composition and the antimicrobial properties of seven samples of essential oils of endemic Thymes in Morocco against multi-resistant bacteria and pathogenic fungi.Saudi Pharm. J.20223081200121410.1016/j.jsps.2022.06.022 36164579
     [Google Scholar]
  27. DissanayakeD.M.I.H. PereraD.D.B.D. KeerthirathnaL.R. HeendeniyaS. AndersonR.J. WilliamsD.E. PeirisL.D.C. Antimicrobial activity of Plumbago indica and ligand screening of plumbagin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn.20224073273328410.1080/07391102.2020.1846622 33213303
     [Google Scholar]
  28. ShuklaB. SaxenaS. UsmaniS. KushwahaP. Phytochemistry and pharmacological studies of Plumbago zeylanica L.: A medicinal plant review.Clin. Phytosci2021713410.1186/s40816‑021‑00271‑7
     [Google Scholar]
  29. PetrocelliG. MarrazzoP. BonsiL. FacchinF. AlvianoF. CanaiderS. Plumbagin, a natural compound with several biological effects and anti-inflammatory properties.Life2023136130310.3390/life13061303 37374085
     [Google Scholar]
  30. LiuX. LiuR. ZhaoR. WangJ. ChengY. LiuQ. WangY. YangS. Synergistic interaction between paired combinations of natural antimicrobials against poultry-borne pathogens.Front. Microbiol.20221381178410.3389/fmicb.2022.811784 35602084
     [Google Scholar]
  31. ZhangJ. SunH. ChenS. ZengL. WangT. Anti-fungal activity, mechanism studies on α-Phellandrene and Nonanal against Penicillium cyclopium.Bot. Stud.20175811310.1186/s40529‑017‑0168‑8 28510196
     [Google Scholar]
  32. HuangZ. LiQ. ZengH. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Cinnamomum camphora.J. Essent. Oil Res.2018302120125
     [Google Scholar]
  33. CheckerR. PatwardhanR.S. SharmaD. MenonJ. ThohM. SandurS.K. SainisK.B. PoduvalT.B. Plumbagin, a vitamin K3 analogue, abrogates lipopolysaccharide-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and endotoxic shock via NF-κB suppression.Inflammation201437254255410.1007/s10753‑013‑9768‑y 24234154
     [Google Scholar]
  34. ChuH. YuH. RenD. ZhuK. HuangH. Plumbagin exerts protective effects in nucleus pulposus cells by attenuating hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis through NF-κB and Nrf-2.Int. J. Mol. Med.20163761669167610.3892/ijmm.2016.2564 27082014
     [Google Scholar]
  35. LuoP. WongY.F. GeL. ZhangZ.F. LiuY. LiuL. ZhouH. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of plumbagin through inhibition of nuclear factor-κB activation.J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.2010335373574210.1124/jpet.110.170852 20858709
     [Google Scholar]
  36. RoyA. Plumbagin: A potential anti-cancer compound.Mini Rev. Med. Chem.202121673173710.2174/18755607MTEx2NTM02 33200707
     [Google Scholar]
  37. PandeyD.K. KatochK. DasT. MajumderM. DhamaK. ManeA.B. GopalakrishnanA.V. DeyA. Approaches for in vitro propagation and production of plumbagin in Plumbago spp.Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol.2023107134119413210.1007/s00253‑023‑12511‑6 37199750
     [Google Scholar]
  38. ItoC. MatsuiT. TakanoM. WuT.S. ItoigawaM. Anti-cell proliferation effect of naphthoquinone dimers isolated from Plumbago zeylanica.Nat. Prod. Res.201832182127213210.1080/14786419.2017.1366476 28823173
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Cervantes-AnayaN. Hernández-BelloR. RosasR.O. MirandaE.I. Anti-inflammatory activity of thymol: In vitro studies in human immune cells and in vivo in mice models.J. Med. Plants Res.20161011160167
     [Google Scholar]
  40. SomensiN. RabeloT.K. GuimarãesA.G. Quintans-JuniorL.J. de Souza AraújoA.A. MoreiraJ.C.F. GelainD.P. Carvacrol suppresses LPS-induced pro-inflammatory activation in RAW 264.7 macrophages through ERK1/2 and NF-kB pathway.Int. Immunopharmacol.20197510574310.1016/j.intimp.2019.105743 31357087
     [Google Scholar]
  41. ShenD. PanM.H. WuQ. ParkC.H. HoC.T. Thymol and carvacrol suppress inflammatory responses in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages via NF-κB and MAPK pathways.Food Funct.201551125732581
     [Google Scholar]
  42. IslamM.T. BappiM.H. BhuiaM.S. AnsariS.A. AnsariI.A. ShillM.C. AlbayoukT. SalehN. El-ShazlyM. El-NasharH.A.S. Anti-inflammatory effects of thymol: An emphasis on the molecular interactions through in vivo approach and molecular dynamic simulations.Front Chem.202412137678310.3389/fchem.2024.1376783 38983677
     [Google Scholar]
  43. DiasD.P.M. ColomboM. NadruzW. Carvacrol attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in human macrophages by suppressing NF-κB activation and enhancing Nrf2 expression.Phytomedicine202078153309
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/aia/10.2174/0122113525370624250616104436
Loading
Bioactive Potential of Hexane Extract from Plumbago europaea Roots: Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, and Hemolytic Activities
Anti Infect. Agents 24, E22113525370624 (2026); https://doi.org/10.2174/0122113525370624250616104436
/content/journals/aia/10.2174/0122113525370624250616104436
/content/journals/aia/10.2174/0122113525370624250616104436
Loading

Data & Media loading...


  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): albumin denaturation; analysis; biological activities; essential oil; GC-MS; plumbagin; Plumbago europaea

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test