In vitro antioxidant, photoprotective, and enzyme inhibitory properties of the Algerian plant Euphorbia bupleuroides Desf.

Radhia Bouzid; Mourad Hanfer; Zina Allaoua; Imene Daas; Nassiba Chaffa; Chawki Bensouici; Hamada Haba

doi:10.55779/nsb18212848

Authors

Radhia Bouzid 1) University of Batna 2, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, 05078 Fesdis, Batna; 2) University of Batna 2, Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Acquired and Constitutional Genetic Diseases (MAGECA), 05078 Fesdis, Batna (DZ) https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8937-0652
Mourad Hanfer University of Batna 2, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, 05078 Fesdis, Batna (DZ) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4757-0150
Zina Allaoua University of Batna 1, Faculty of Sciences of the Matter, Laboratory of Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry (L.C.C.E), 05000 Batna (DZ) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1400-0541
Imene Daas 1) University of Batna 2, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, 05078 Fesdis, Batna; 2) University of Batna 2, Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Acquired and Constitutional Genetic Diseases (MAGECA), 05078 Fesdis, Batna (DZ) https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3052-2778
Nassiba Chaffa University of Larbi Ben M’hidi, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Nature and Life Sciences, 04000 Oum El Bouaghi (DZ) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8177-3448
Chawki Bensouici Biotechnology Research Center (CRBT), Ali Mendjli New Town UV 03, B.P E73, 25016 Constantine (DZ) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4612-4642
Hamada Haba University of Batna 1, Faculty of Sciences of the Matter, Laboratory of Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry (L.C.C.E), 05000 Batna (DZ) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7979-5007

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55779/nsb18212848

Keywords:

Euphorbia bupleuroides, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, photoprotective activity, enzymatic inhibition assays, in vitro assays

Abstract

Euphorbia bupleuroides Desf. is an underexplored Algerian medicinal plant of the family Euphorbiaceae. In the present study, we are interested in the phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, photoprotective effects, and enzyme inhibitory activities of five crude extracts obtained from E. bupleuroides namely hydroethanolic (HAE), aqueous (Aq), hexane (Hex), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (n-BuOH). The hydroethanolic extract (HAE) showed the highest total phenolic (142 µg GAE mg^–1) and flavonoid (90 µg QE mg^–1) contents, correlating with its superior antioxidant performance across DPPH, ABTS, and other in vitro assays (IC₅₀ = 14.07 ± 0.07 – 175.97 ± 2.35 µg mL⁻¹). All extracts exhibited significant radical-scavenging capacity, contributing to notable sun protection potential, with SPF values of 40.38 ± 0.38, 40.09 ± 0.12, 40.06 ± 0.77 and 34.79 ± 1.14 for the ethyl acetate (EtOAc), hydroethanolic (HAE), aqueous (Aq) and n-butanolic (n-BuOH) extracts, respectively. In enzymatic assays, the extracts demonstrated moderate inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase activity, with IC₅₀ ranging from 140 to 199 µg mL^–1, but only weak acetylcholinesterase inhibition reaching IC₅₀ value of 575.49 µg mL^–1. The hexane extract (Hex) exhibited selectively moderate inhibition of α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 343.61 ± 1.95 µg mL^–1). The extracts also displayed moderate activity against tyrosinase or urease. Overall, these results highlight E. bupleuroides as a promising source of phenolic-rich bioactive extracts with marked antioxidant and selective enzyme inhibitory properties, supporting further phytochemical and biological investigations to identify active secondary metabolites, especially phenolic compounds and flavonoids, and assess their pharmacological potential for medical and pharmaceutical purposes.

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