Hepatoprotective, cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Dioon spinulosum leaves Dyer Ex Eichler and its isolated secondary metabolites

Abstract

Given the lack of adequate research on Dioon spinulosum (D. spinulosum) Dyer Ex Eichler, this study was conducted focusing on different biological activities and phytochemical investigation of D. spinulosum for the first time. D. spinulosum showed strong protective activity against DNA damage and potent activity against VERO cell line. It also presented antimicrobial and hepatoprotective activity. Phytochemical investigation of the leaves resulted in isolation of two new flavonoids, apigenin 7-O-α-d-glucopyranoside (15) and amentoflavone 7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (16), in addition to fifteen known compounds: phytone (1), trans-phytol (2), β-sitosterol (3), stigmasterol (4), oliveriflavone (5), 7,4′,7″,4″′-tetramethylamentoflavone (6), 7,4',7''-trimethylamentoflavone (7), scaidopitysin (8), bilobetin (9), isoginkgetin (10), aromadendrin (11), sotusflavone (12), engeletin (14) and eriocitrin (17) for the first time together with amentoflavone (13). Compounds (11) and (13) displayed very strong cytotoxic activity and showed the highest protective activity against DNA damage.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Apigenin 7-O-α-d-glucopyranoside
• amentoflavone 7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside
• biflavonoids
• cytotoxicity
• Dioon spinulosum
• hepatoprotective

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Mr. Rabea Sharawy for providing the necessary plants for this study and to make a lot of his valuable time in helping to identify the plants.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.