Chemical composition, in vitro antiparasitic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Frankenia thymifolia Desf.

Abstract

This study was performed on the derived fractions [chloroform (FT-C), ethyl acetate (FT-E) and n-butanol (FT-B)] of the 70% ethanol extract prepared from Frankenia thymifolia, endemic to North Africa. The fractions showed high total phenolic and flavonoid contents particularly FT-E. These results agreed with their antioxidant effects. Indeed, all the fractions were able to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, with a better power of FT-E. These results were supported by the inhibition of β-carotene oxidation assay. The fractions showed moderate activity against Acanthamoeba castellanii and Leishmania amazonensis with a better activity of FT-E against A. castellanii. Moreover, FT-B exhibited an interesting antimicrobial activity against all tested bacteria. The phytochemical investigation of the most active fractions (FT-E and FT-B) led to the isolation and structural determination of six compounds. The observed biological activities may be associated with the presence of quercetin and its derivatives found in the chemical composition of these fractions.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Antioxidant activity
• antimicrobial activity
• antiparasitic activity
• Frankenia thymifolia
• flavonoids
• polyphenols

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank DGRSDT and PNE (MESRS), Algeria and Dr. Jacob Lorenzo-Morales from Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, Pr. Isabel L. Bazzocchi and Dr. Ignacio A. Jiménez from Universitario de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de La Laguna for their help and the 600 MHz NMR spectra.

Supplementary material

Experimental details together with Tables (S1–S4) and Figures (S1 and S2) relating to this paper are available online.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank DGRSDT and PNE (MESRS), Algeria and Dr. Jacob Lorenzo-Morales from Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, Pr. Isabel L. Bazzocchi and Dr. Ignacio A. Jiménez from Universitario de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de La Laguna for their help and the 600 MHz NMR spectra