Botanical and Genetic Identification Followed by Investigation of Chemical Composition and Biological Activities on the <i>Scabiosa atropurpurea</i> L. Stem from Tunisian Flora
Soukaina Hrichi,
Raja Chaabane-Banaoues,
Sihem Bayar,
Guido Flamini,
Yassine Oulad El Majdoub,
Domenica Mangraviti,
Luigi Mondello,
Ridha El Mzoughi,
Hamouda Babba,
Zine Mighri,
Francesco Cacciola
Affiliations
Soukaina Hrichi
Laboratory of Physico-Chemistry of Materials, Faculty of Sciences of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Raja Chaabane-Banaoues
Laboratory of Medical and Molecular Parasitology and Mycology (LP3M), Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, Department of Clinical Biology B, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Sihem Bayar
Laboratory of Analysis, Treatment and Valorization of Environmental Pollutants and Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Guido Flamini
Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Yassine Oulad El Majdoub
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
Domenica Mangraviti
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
Luigi Mondello
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
Ridha El Mzoughi
Laboratory of Analysis, Treatment and Valorization of Environmental Pollutants and Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Hamouda Babba
Laboratory of Medical and Molecular Parasitology and Mycology (LP3M), Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, Department of Clinical Biology B, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Zine Mighri
Laboratory of Physico-Chemistry of Materials, Faculty of Sciences of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
Francesco Cacciola
Department of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
Scarce information about the phenolic composition of Scabiosa atropurpurea L. is available, and no carotenoid compounds have been reported thus far. In this study the phenolic and carotenoid composition of this plant was both investigated and associated bioactivities were evaluated. Aiming to obtain extracts and volatile fractions of known medicinal plants to valorize them in the pharmaceutical or food industries, two techniques of extraction and five solvents were used to determine the biologically active compounds. Gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization and mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry highlighted the presence of 15 volatiles, 19 phenolics, and 24 natural pigments in Scabiosa atropurpurea L. stem samples; among them, the most abundant were 1,8-cineole, chlorogenic acid, cynaroside, and lutein. Bioactivity was assessed by a set of in vitro tests checking for antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and allelopathic (against Brassica oleracea L. and Lens culinaris Medik) effects. Scabiosa atropurpurea L. stem extracts presented a considerable antioxidant, antibacterial, and allelopathic potential, with less antifungal effectiveness. These results indicate that the volatile fractions and extracts from S. atropurpurea L. stem could be considered as a good source of bioactive agents, with possible applications in food-related, agriculture, and pharmaceutical fields. Genetic investigations showed 97% of similarity with Scabiosa tschiliensis, also called Japanese Scabiosa.
