Abstract
Background: Schinus molle L. is a medicinal and aromatic plant widely used in folk
medicine and commonly found in Algeria and the Mediterranean region. In the present work, we investigated
the in vitro antioxidant, anti-cholinesterase, α-glucosidase inhibitory and photoprotective
potentials of the Schinus molle L. plant’s extract/fractions. The metabolite profile of Schinus
molle L. was analyzed using RP-HPLC and GC-MS.
Methods: The antioxidant activity was assessed using different tests. The anticholinesterase activity
was investigated by quantifying the acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities.
The antidiabetic activity was investigated by α-glucosidase inhibition test, whereas photoprotective
activity was evaluated by Sun Protection Factor (SPF) using spectrophotometry UV-Vis.
The extracts were then subjected to RP-HPLC–PDA and GC–MS analysis.
Results: Ethyl acetate and butanol fractions with high contents of total phenolics and flavonoids exhibited
the strongest antioxidant activity. Ethyl acetate extract exhibited considerable enzyme inhibition
potential on acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase with percentages
of inhibition of 99.08 ± 0.79%, 100% and 98.80 ± 0.18%, respectively. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate
fraction showed high photoprotective activity with the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) value =
38,26 ± 0.73. Three phenolic acids (gallic, tannic and vanillic acids) and five flavonoids
(myricetin, apigenin, naringenin, rutin and quercetin) were identified with RP-HPLC–PDA.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that Schinus molle L. may be useful in the development of an
alternative agent for oxidative stress, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and could be used as a natural
sunscreen in pharmaceutics or cosmetic formulations.
Keywords:
Schinus molle L. , antioxidant activity, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, α-glucosidase, photoprotective
activity.
Graphical Abstract
[13]
Kasmi A, Hammami M, Abderrabba M, Ayadi S. Schinus molle: Chemical Analysis, Phenolic Compounds and Evaluation of Its Antioxidant Activity. J Chem Pharm Res 2016; 8: 93-101.
[15]
Manoharan KP, Kemelo SM, Mosotho JG, Sibusisiwe M. Antioxidant activity of extracts from Schinus molle L. and Gleditsia triacanthos L. J Med Plants Res 2018; 12: 369-74.
[35]
Mansur J, Breder M, Mansur M, Azulay R. Correlação entre a determinação do fator de proteção solar em seres humanos e por espectrofotometria An Bras Dermatol 1986; 61
[49]
Ennigrou A, Hosni K, Casabianca H, Vulliet E, Smiti S. Leaf volatile oil constituants of Schinus terebinthifolius and Schinus molle from Tunisia
[53]
Salem MZM, El-Shikh SM, M. Ali H. Chemical Characterization of the Volatile Oil Isolated from Leaves of Schinus molle L. and its Antioxidant Activity. J Pure Appl Microbiol 2013; 7: 355-60.
[54]
da Silveira RCDSS, Guedes AL, Frattani FS, Epifânio NMM, de Souza MAA, Chaves DS de A. Chemical profile of schinus molle L. Essential oil and its antihemostatic properties. Nat Volatiles Essent Oils 2020; 7: 1-8.
[55]
Ibrahim MT, Haggag EG. Phenolics from Schinus molle stems and their anti-bacterial and anti-microalgal activity. Life Sci J 2013; 10: 1931-7.
[100]
Chika A, Bello SO. Antihyperglycaemic activity of aqueous leaf extract of Combretum micranthum (Combretaceae) in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic
rats J Ethnopharmacol 2010; 129: 34-7.
[104]
Abreu Dutra E, Almança Gonçalves da Costa e Oliveira D, Rosa Maria Kedor-Hackmann E, Santoro M. Determination of sun protection factor (SPF) of sunscreens by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Revista Brasileira De Ciencia Do Solo -. Rev Bras Ciênc Solo 2004; 40: 381-5.
[105]
Mahmood Z, Imam S, Azhar I. In vitro Evaluation of Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of a Cream Formulation Prepared From Extracts of Musa accuminata (L.), Psidium gujava (L.), and Pyrus communis (L.). Asian J Pharm Clin Res 2015; 8: 234-7.
[114]
Violante IMP, Souza IM, Venturini CL, Ramalho AFS, Santos RAN, Ferrari M. Avaliação in vitro da atividade fotoprotetora de extratos vegetais do cerrado de Mato Grosso Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia scielo 2009; 19: 425-57.