Nutraceutical Rumex nervosus as a Natural Drug Candidate; its Metabolite Profiling and Pharmacological Estimation for...

Rumex nervosus Vahl is a phenomenal plant from Arabian Peninsula and East African areas. It potentially contains massive therapeutic phytochemicals, including Omeprazole, sitosterols, fatty acids, flavonoids and carotenes. Omepazole (a commercial drug) is used to treat stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux and cardiac disorders. Beta-sitosterol (commercial drug) reduces cholesterol levels and body swelling. It is also known to manage rheumatoid arthritis.

The present study evaluated the pharmacological potential and metabolite profiling of Rumex nervosus through various extracts. The extraction was performed using different solvents (Petroleum ether, Chloroform, n-Hexane, Butanol, Methanol, and distilled water) through soxhlet extraction method. Serial dilutions of (100-3.125 mg/mL) were prepared. The biological activities, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, Hemolytic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant (DPPH radical Scavenging, Total anti-oxidant and total phenolic content assays) were performed. Statistical analysis of experimental data was carried out by using SPSS Version 20 and Origin 6.0. Data was represented as mean ± standard deviation (n=3). Differences among mean values were determined using Two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test. The level of statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. The potential extracts were further analyzed for phytochemicals through GC-MS and Network pharmacology (In silico approach).

The plant exhibited the best antioxidant activity (86.7% ± 1.92) at 100 mg/mL with distilled water extract. The highest anti-inflammatory activity (90.64 ± 2.34) (88.31 ± 2.37) was given by n-butanol and distilled water extracts at 100 mg/mL. The optimum anti-diabetic activity (92.78 ± 1.89) was observed at 100 mg/mL with n-butanol.

The maximum zone of inhibition was measured with n-butanol extract against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (36.67 ± 0.32) at 100mg/mL, and in the case of Xanthomonas oryzae again n-butanol extract showed maximum zone of inhibition (30.47 ± 0.32) at 100 mg/mL. The maximum fungal zone of inhibition (22.33 ± 0.40) was noticed with n-butanol extract against Fusarium oxysporom at 100 mg/mL, and in the case of Aspergillus niger maximum fungal zone of inhibition was measured with n-butanol extract (16.20 ± 0.25) at 100 mg/mL. Hemolysis activity was highest (4.12 ± 0.01) with the methanol extract at 3.125 mg/mL. R. nervosus displayed the best activities with n-butanol and distilled water extract. GCMS and network pharmacology combined approach identified seven phytochemicals associated with oxidative stress and infectious diseases (1-Tetradecanol, Stigmast-5-ene, Phthalic acid 2-ethylhexyl isohexyl ester, A-Norcholestan-3-one, 5-ethenyl-, (5.beta.), 16-Heptadecenal, gamma-Sitosterol, Omeprazole). Degree score method selected 10 top hub genes, including AKT1, TNF, and EGFR, as potential targets for the identified phytochemicals. Omeprazole and 1- Tetradecanol are currently being used as medicines for treating gastric problems and inflammation.

R. nervosus has been confirmed as a potential source of these compounds through a multifaceted approach, hence it could thus be considered a safe, significant therapeutic source.