Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Cytotoxic and alpha amylase-inhibitory metabolites from Tagetes minuta: In vitro evaluation and docking studies

Gamal A Mohamed¹ , Ali A Alqarni¹, Hossam M Abdallah¹, Abdelsattar M Omar^2,3, Sabrin RM Ibrahim^4,5

¹Department of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; ²Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; ³Center for Artificial Intelligence in Precision Medicines, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; ⁴Department of Chemistry, Preparatory Year Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi Arabia; ⁵Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt.

For correspondence:- Gamal Mohamed Email: gahussein@kau.edu.sa Tel:+966597636182

Accepted: 28 March 2023 Published: 29 April 2023

Citation: Mohamed GA, Alqarni AA, Abdallah HM, Omar AM, Ibrahim SR. Cytotoxic and alpha amylase-inhibitory metabolites from Tagetes minuta: In vitro evaluation and docking studies. Trop J Pharm Res 2023; 22(4):795-804 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v22i4.12

© 2023 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the cytotoxic and alpha-amylase inhibitory (AAI) potential of methanol (MeOH) extract of T. minuta and its isolated metabolites.

Methods: Phytochemical investigation of MeOH extract of the aerial parts of T. minuta was accomplished using SiO₂ and Rp-18 column chromatography (CC). The structures of the isolated metabolites were determined and verified based on various data, in addition to comparison with literature data. The metabolites were assessed for cytotoxic potential against HepG2, MCF-7, and HCT116 cell lines utilizing sulphur rhodamine B (SRB) assay. The in vitro AAI potential of the metabolites were also assayed, and the findings were confirmed using results from molecular docking studies.

Results: One thiophene (compound 1), one coumarin (compound 2), and three phenolic compounds (compounds 3-5) were isolated and characterized. Compound 1 exhibited a marked cytotoxic effect (IC₅₀ values: 2.7 – 7.3 μM) on HepG2, MCF-7, and HCT116 cell lines, relative to doxorubicin (IC₅₀ values: 0.18 - 0.60 μM), whereas compound 2 had a moderate cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 (IC₅₀ 17.7 μM). Besides, compounds 4 and 5 produced potent AAI effects, with IC₅₀ values of 12.3 and 9.2 µM, respectively, and 91.8 and 94.7 % inhibition, respectively), when compared to acarbose (94.7 % inhibition and IC₅₀ of 7.1 µM). Interestingly, the in vitro AAI and in silico results were in agreement with each other. Compounds 5 and 4 had more negative docking scores (-13.655 and -12.135 kcal/mol, respectively) than the native inhibitors, myricetin (-12.155 kcal/mol) and acarbose (-15.105 kcal/mol).

Conclusion: These results suggest that T. minuta is a valuable source of anti-diabetic and cytotoxic metabolites. However, there is a need to validate these results through additional in vivo and in vitro investigations.

Keywords: Tagetes minuta, Asteraceae, Flavonoids, Alpha-amylase inhibition, Cytotoxic potential