Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction, LC–MS/MS Analysis, Anticholinesterase, and Antioxidant Activities of Valuable Natural Metabolites from Astragalus armatus Willd.: In Silico Molecular Docking and In Vitro Enzymatic Studies

Abstract

The Astragalus armatus Willd. plant’s phenolic constituent extraction and identification were optimized using the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method and the LC–MS/MS analysis, respectively. Additionally, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), beta carotene, reducing power, DMSO alcalin, silver nanoparticle (SNP)-based method, phenanthroline, and hydroxyl radical tests were utilized to assess the extract’s antioxidant capacity, while the neuroprotective effect was examined in vitro against acetylcholinesterase enzyme. This study accurately estimated the chemical bonding between the identified phenolic molecules derived from LC–MS/MS and the AChE. The extract was found to contain sixteen phenolic substances, and rosmarinic, protocatechuic, and chlorogenic acids, as well as 4-hydroxybenzoic, hyperoside, and hesperidin, were the most abundant substances in the extract. In all antioxidant experiments, the plant extract demonstrated strong antioxidant activity and a significant inhibitory impact against AChE (40.25 ± 1.41 μg/mL). According to molecular docking affinity to the enzyme AChE, the top-five molecules were found to be luteolin, quercetin, naringenin, rosmarinic acid, and kaempferol. Furthermore, these tested polyphenols satisfy the essential requirements for drug-like characteristics and Lipinski’s rule of five. These results highlight the significance of the A. armatus plant in cosmetics, as food additives, and in the pharmaceutical industry due to its rosmarinic and chlorogenic acid content.

In Vitro Study of Biological Activity of Tanacetum vulgare Extracts

“…We focused on the three main components of T. vulgare extracts in this study: lutelin-7-glucoside, chlorogenic, and rosmarinic acids, because they are found in the greatest quantities in the T. vulgare extracts and have the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activity when compared to other identified biologically active substances (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, neochlorogenic acid, caftaric acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and apigenin-7-O-glucoside). Lutelin-7-glucoside, chlorogenic, and rosmarinic acids are well-known compounds with numerous research papers describing their properties [ 31 , 32 , 33 ].…”

Screening of Antiglaucoma, Antidiabetic, Anti-Alzheimer, and Antioxidant Activities of Astragalus alopecurus Pall—Analysis of Phenolics Profiles by LC-MS/MS

“…In the other study by Krasteva and Nikolov [ 65 ], nine flavonoids (vitexin, orientin, eriodictyol-7- O -glucoside, isorhamnetin-3- O -glucoside, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, isorhamnetin-3- O -rutinoside, quercetin, and quercetin-3- O -glucoside/galactoside/rutinoside) were identified. The LC-MS/MS method also identified phenolic compounds containing rosmarinic, protocatechuic, chlorogenic acids, 4-hydroxybenzoic, hyperoside, and hesperidin in the ethanol extract of A. armatus [ 66 ]. In addition, ferulic, p-coumaric acid, quercetin, luteolin, apigenin, and isorhamnetin were found on A. emarginatus Labill caffeic by UHPLC-DAD-HRMS [ 67 ].…”

Unraveling the chemical profile, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, cytotoxic potential of different extracts from Astragalus caraganae

“…For centuries, a wide range of Astragalus species have been used in the traditional medicine of different countries such as Pakistan, Iran, India, Korea, and China. [2,3] The Astragalus genus has been extensively studied, mainly due to the presence of three major groups of bioactive compounds, namely flavonoids, polysaccharides, and saponins. Furthermore, other compounds, including sesquiterpene-flavonolic complexes, lignans, sterols, coumarins, and phenolic acids, have also been reported to possess biological activities.…”

“…For centuries, a wide range of Astragalus species have been used in the traditional medicine of different countries such as Pakistan, Iran, India, Korea, and China. [ 2,3 ]…”