Bioactive Phenolic Contents of Scorzonera ketzkhowelii Sosn. ex Grossh. (Asteraceae) with Comprehensive In vitro and In silico Studies

Abstract

This study explores the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticholinesterase properties of extracts from the natural plantScorzonera ketzkhoweliifor the first time. Additionally, it focuses on isolating phenolic compounds from the ethyl acetate sub-extract, elucidating their structures, and investigating their in-silico bioactivities. Twelve phenolic compounds were isolated and characterized from the ethyl acetate sub-extracts, including hydrangenol(1), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde(2), luteolin(3), esculin(4), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid ethyl ester(5), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester(6), kaempferol 3-O-β-glucopyranoside(7), quercetin 3-O-α-arabinopyranoside(8), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid ethyl ester(9), thunberginol F 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(10), hydrangeic acid 4′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(11), and 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid(12). The ethyl acetate sub-extracts from both aerial and subaerial parts demonstrated exceptional radical scavenging activity. Moreover, all fractions exhibited potent inhibition against COX-I and COX-II enzymes, with notable inhibitory effects observed in the ethyl acetate and dichloromethane sub-extracts against AChE. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of these compounds were assessed against various biological targets, including TNFα, COX-I, COX-II, human CYP450, and hAChE, through molecular docking studies. According to the molecular docking and dynamics studies, compound9emerged as particularly noteworthy across all complexes, exhibiting stable binding modes and promising interactions with key residues involved in inhibition.