Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction, LC–MS/MS Analysis, Anticholinesterase, and Antioxidant Activities of Valuable Natural Metabolites from <i>Astragalus armatus</i> Willd.: In Silico Molecular Docking and In Vitro Enzymatic Studies
Sabrina Lekmine,
Samira Bendjedid,
Ouided Benslama,
Antonio Ignacio Martín-García,
Samira Boussekine,
Kenza Kadi,
Salah Akkal,
Gema Nieto,
Rokayya Sami,
Amina A. M. Al-Mushhin,
Morooj M. Baakdah,
Abeer M. Aljaadi,
Saif A. Alharthy
Affiliations
Sabrina Lekmine
Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Department of Biology, Larbi Tébessi University, Tebessa 12000, Algeria
Samira Bendjedid
Laboratory of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, Research, Chadli Bendjedid University, El Tarf 36000, Algeria
Ouided Benslama
Laboratory of Natural Substances, Biomolecules, and Biotechnological Applications, Department of Natural and Life Sciences, Larbi Ben M’Hidi University, Oum El Bouaghi 04000, Algeria
Antonio Ignacio Martín-García
Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC) Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
Samira Boussekine
Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Department of Biology, Larbi Tébessi University, Tebessa 12000, Algeria
Kenza Kadi
Biotechnology, Water, Environment and Health Laboratory, Abbes Laghrour University, Khenchela 40004, Algeria
Salah Akkal
Valorization of Natural Resources, Bioactive Molecules and Biological Analysis Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Mentouri Constantine1, Constantine 1, Constantine 25000, Algeria
Gema Nieto
Department of Food Technology, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Murcia, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, Espinardo, 30071 Murcia, Spain
Rokayya Sami
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Amina A. M. Al-Mushhin
Department of Biology, College of Science and Humanities in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
Morooj M. Baakdah
Department of Chemistry, Preparatory Year Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi Arabia
Abeer M. Aljaadi
Clinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 715, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia
Saif A. Alharthy
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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.
