Exploring the Utility of Prunus mahaleb Extracts as a Source of Natural Bioactive Compounds for Functional...

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Natural Products Chemistry

Background:

• Prunus mahaleb is recognized for its medicinal value and functional properties.
• Understanding its chemical composition and biological activities is crucial for its application.
• Various plant parts, including fruit, leaves, and twigs, are potential sources of bioactive compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the chemical composition of Prunus mahaleb fruit, leaves, and twigs.
• To evaluate the antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, mutagenic/antimutagenic, and antibacterial activities of P. mahaleb extracts.
• To identify key metabolites responsible for the observed biological effects.

Main Methods:

• Extraction of P. mahaleb parts using methanol and ethyl acetate.
• Assessment of antioxidant activity using DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, FRAP, phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelating assays.
• Chemical profiling using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS).
• Enzyme inhibition assays (AChE, BChE, tyrosinase, amylase, glucosidase).
• Mutagenicity and antimutagenicity testing using the Ames test.
• Antibacterial efficacy determined by broth microdilution assay.

Main Results:

• Methanol extract of twigs displayed superior antioxidant capacity across multiple assays.
• Twigs extract showed the highest tyrosinase inhibitory activity.
• HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis identified 40 metabolites, with ferulic acid, naringenin, and herniarin being predominant.
• No mutagenic potential was observed in the Ames test.
• Twigs and leaves extracts demonstrated significant antimutagenic effects against frameshift and base pair substitution mutations (85-98% inhibition).
• Extracts exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Sarcina lutea, Bacillus cereus, Candida albicans, and Staphylococcus aureus.

Conclusions:

• Prunus mahaleb possesses significant antioxidant, antimutagenic, and antibacterial properties.
• The twig and leaf extracts are particularly rich in bioactive compounds.
• Identified metabolites like ferulic acid and naringenin contribute to the plant's biological activities.
• Prunus mahaleb serves as a valuable source for developing health-promoting products.