Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research (2018), 17(2): 685-694 Received: October 2016 Accepted: May 2017 Original Article Phytochemical Analysis and In-vitro Bioactivity of Scrophularia umbrosa Rhizome (Scrophulariaceae) Elhameh Nikkhaha, Fariba Heshmati Afshara, b, Hossein Babaeia, b, Parina Asghariana, c and Abbas Delazara, b* aDrug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. bFaculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. cStudent Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Abstract Scrophularia umbrosa is a medicinal plant used as a traditional herb. This study was designed to investigate the phytochemical analysis of methanol (MeOH), DCM, and n-Hexane extracts of rhizome as well as total phenol and total flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC). In- vitro β-hematin formation assay and DPPH method were applied for analyzing antimalarial and free-radical scavenging activities of the extracts, respectively. The formation of hemozoin has been proposed as an ideal drug target for antimalarial screening programs. The results showed that n-hexane and MeOH extracts of rhizome had no significant inhibitory effect on heme biocrystallization whereas the DCM extract of rhizome showed moderate antimalarial activity in comparison with chloroquine. GC-MS data showed that volatile portions of DCM and n-Hexane extracts from Scrophularia umbrosa (S. umbrosa) contained a few identifiable compounds. Moreover, fractions 20% and 40% MeOH-Water of MeOH extract of S. umbrosa displayed moderate to strong free radical scavenging activity which showed a positive relation between phenolic and flavonoid contents and free radical scavenging activity. Based on the results, the fractions of MeOH extract were evaluated by 1HNMR for predicting the groups of natural compounds and interfacing of chemical and biological assessments. Keywords: Antimalaria; Antioxidant; TPC; TFC; GC-MS, Scrophularia umbrosa. Introduction to provide scientific support for the effectiveness of herbal medicines. Scrophularia genus belongs In recent decades, the plant kingdom has to Scrophulariaceae family including about been considered as the important source of 3000 species and 220 genera (3-5). Scrophularia potential drugs which are easily available, L. consists of about 200 species of herbaceous safe, and inexpensive and rarely show side flowering plants, commonly known as ‘figwort’. effects (1). Based on estimations of the World It occurs throughout mountainous regions, Health Organization, more than 80 percent forests riversides (e.g. S. umbrosa) and rarely of people still rely mostly on traditional drugs in hot deserts (6). Scrophularia umbrosa Boiss such as plants for treating their aliments (2). So, with common name “water figwort” is one of nowadays, several studies have been carried out the species which is native to Iran and many species of this genus are widely distributed * Corresponding author: in various regions of Iran (6, 7). S. umbrosa E-mail: [email protected] possesses quadrangular and winged stems Nikkhah E et al. / IJPR (2018), 17 (2): 685-694 which are characteristics of figwort genus. Extraction and Isolation Many Scrophularia plants have been used in The dried and ground rhizomes of S. umbrosa Asian countries as a medicinal herb for the (100 g) were extracted with a Soxhlet apparatus treatment of various diseases such as allergy, with n-hexane, DCM and MeOH, successively. cancer, rheumatics, cardiovascular and chronic Obtained extracts were separately concentrated inflammatory disorders (8-10). These species by rotary evaporator at a maxium temperature of also have been found to have numerous biological 45 ºC yielding 0.34 g, 3.43 g, and 11.70 g from activities such as antibacterial, antiprotozoal, each extract, respectively. antitumor, hepatoprotective, and diuretic A portion of the dried MeOH extract (2 g) properties, and have been used in the treatment was subjected to solid-phase extraction (SPE) of mental, nervous and gastrointestinal disorders on Sep-Pak (Vac 35 mL; , 10 g; C18 cartridges, (11-14). Furthermore, some species of this Waters, Ireland) using a step gradient of genus have been used to treat eczema, wounds, MeOH: Water mixtures (10:90, 20:80, 40:60, goiter, ulcers, cancer, and fistulae (15). Several 60:40, 80:20 and 100:0) as eluent. Solvent of species of this genus evaluated phytochemically, fractions were separately removed using a rotary showing the presence of biologically active evaporator at a maximum temperature of 45 °C. phenylethanoids, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, In order to purify and isolate phytochemials, iridoid glycosides, and terpenoids (16-19). Based the SPE fraction eluted with 10% MeOH was on previous reports and as part of our on-going analyzed by reversed-phase preparative HPLC studies on Iranian medicinal plants, we have (Knauer, preparative pump 1800, with studied the MeOH, DCM, and n-Hexane extracts photodiode array detector PDA, equipped from rhizome of S. umbrosa. To the best of our with a Reprosil 100 C18,250 mm length, knowledge, no research has been conducted 20 mm i.d, particle size 10 μm, Dr. Maisch on pharmacological and biological activities column, Germany) using the mobile phase: or chemical composition of this plant. In this 0-50 min, linear gradient of 10-30% MeOH paper, we report the antimalarial and free radical in water; 0-40 min, maintained at 10% MeOH scavenging activities of MeOH, DCM and in water, to isolate compound [1] (82.8 mg, tR n-Hexane extract from rhizome of this plant, as = 21.5 min), [2] (0.8 mg, tR = 37.5 min). In all well as total phenol and total flavonoid contents. above prep-HPLC analyses, the flow rate of the Besides, GC-MS and NMR techniques were mobile phase was 8.0 mL/min. The structures of used for the identification of the components of all compounds were elucidated unequivocally the extracts. by spectroscopic means and comparing with references. It afforded two iridoid structures, Experimental which were identified unequivocally as aucubin (1) and lamalbide (2). Chemicals Aucubin [1]: amorphous powder, 1H- NMR Folin ciocaltea reagent and gallic acid were (400 MHz, D2O): δ 5.16 (d, 1H, J = 5.02 Hz, purchased from Fluka. DPPH was obtained H-1), 6.1 (dd, 1H, J = 6.10 Hz, H-3), 5 (dd, 1H, from Sigma, Germany. All other solvents and J = 3.56, 2.56 Hz, H-4), 3.03 (t, 1H, J = 5.80 chemicals were analytical and HPLC grade. Hz, H-5), 4.43 (brs, 1H, H-6), 5.74 (brs, 1H, H-7), 2.67 (m, 1H, H-9), 4.20 (dd, 2H, J = 15.22, Plant Material 16.68 Hz, H-10), 4.46 (1H, H-1ʹ), 3.60 (dd, 1H, The rhizomes of S. umbrosa were collected J = 5.50, 6.80 Hz, H-6ʹa), 3.80 (dd, 1H, J = 1.40, from Mishodaghi mountain at E: 45° 47’ 24”, N: 10.83 Hz, H-6ʹb), 3.20-3.40 ( remaining sugar 38° 20ʹ 59” (altitude of 1780) in East Azarbaijan protons). 13CNMR (400 MHz, D2O): 94.19(C- province during the flowering period. Botanical 1), 138.39(C-3), 104.08(C-4), 41.16(C-5), identification with voucher No: (Tbz-Fph-762) 79.37(C-6), 127.34(C-7), 145.69(C-8), 45.19(C- was carried out at the Herbarium of Faculty 9), 58.33(C-10), 97.23(C-1ʹ), 71.61(C-2ʹ), of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical 74.51(C-3ʹ), 68.41(C-4ʹ), 75.04(C-5ʹ), 59.5(C- Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. 6ʹ). Data were in agreement with the published 686 Phytochemistry and biological activities of S. umbrosa reports (20). at room temperature for 30 min, their absorbance Lamalbide [2]: amorphous powder, 1H- NMR was measured at 750 nm (Pharmacia biotech (400 MHz, D2O): δ 5.49 (brs, 1H, H-1), 7.30 (s, Ultrospec 2000, UV/Visible spectrophotometer, 1H, H-3), 2.77 (dd, 1H, J = 10.80, 3.20Hz, H-5), England). For the calibration curve, 10 mg of 3.9 (t, 1H, J = 4.02 Hz, H-6), 3.5 (d, 1H, J = Gallic acid was dissolved in 10 mL of acetone: 4.45 Hz, H-7), 2.67 (d, 1H, J = 11.21 Hz, H-9), water (60:40) v/v as a stock solution. Different 1.05 (s, 3H, H-10), 3.59 (s, 3H, H-OCH3), 4.61 dilutions of gallic acid were prepared and then (d, 1H, J = 8.06 Hz, H-1ʹ), 3.77 (dd, 1H, H-6ʹa), determined by Folin- Ciocalteau`s method. 3.56 (dd, 1H, H-6ʹb), 3.00-3.34 (remaining Experiments were repeated 2 times for every sugar protons). Data were in agreement with the dilution and a calibration curve was drawn. published papers (21, 22). Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) Free radical scavenging activity The flavonoid content of DCM, n-Hexane The ability of the extracts and fractions to and MeOH extracts as well as MeOH fractions scavenge radicals was assessed by the method were determined using a modified colorimetric is based on the reduction of DPPH (molecular assay (27) and used rutin as a standard. Extracts formula C18H12N5O6) solutions in the presence of or standard solutions (0.5 mL) were mixed with a hydrogen donating antioxidant. DPPH (8 mg) distillated water (2 mL) and 5% NaNO2 (150 was dissolved in appropriate solvent (methanol μL). After six min, test mixtures were combined or chloroform) to obtain a concentration of 80 with 10% AlCl3 solution (150 μL), 4% NaOH (2 μg/mL. For preparing the test samples, the mL) and finally distillated water was added to MeOH extract and SPE fractions were dissolved adjust the volume of 5 mL. The absorbance of in methanol to obtain a concentration of 1 mg/mL the samples was read at 510 nm against blank whereas. The DCM and n-Hexane extracts were after 30 min at room temperature and the total dissolved in chloroform.