Phytochemical and antimicrobial study on Falcaria vulgaris

Abstract

Introduction: Falcaria vulgaris which grows in different parts of Iran, belongs to Apiaceae or umbelliferae family. In total, two Falcaria species have been reported from Iran ,namely, Falcaria vulgaris and Falcaria falcarioides. It should be mentioned that numerous pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities have been reported from mentioned family. Objective: Regarding the importance of reported biological effects of isolated compounds from this family, it seems to be rational to start phytochemical and biological studies on Falcaria vulgaris Bernh. Experimental: The aerial parts of the plant was extracted successively using n-hexane, dichlomethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH) by soxhlet extraction. Dried MeOH extract was subjected to C18 Sep-Pak fractionation using a step gradient of MeOH-H2O. Further purification of the fractions by preparative reversed-phase HPLC yielded 18 compounds. Structure elucidation for four compounds were accomplished by using 1HNMR and 13CNMR. Furthermore, the composition of essential oils of plant were determined by coupled GC/MS. In addition, antioxidant, total phenol and total flavonoid assays was performed. In the next stage, the inhibitory effect of the extracts on the three gram positive strains, three gram negative strains and one fungi was assessed qualitatively. Extracts with high growth inhibitory effect were fractionated and the MIC was determined by broth micro-dilution method. Furthermore, primary phytochemical and GC-MS analysis were used to identify the chemical compounds of potent extract. Results: Phytochemical study on F. vulgaris yielded phenolic & furanocoumarin derivatives. GC/MS analysis of the essential oils of F. vulgaris led to identification of 17 compounds. Antioxidant assays revealed considerable activities of MeOH extract and its 60% fraction. The DCM extract of F. vulgaris showed significant antimicrobial activity against gram positive strains and Candida albicans. Among the fractions, 40% VLC fraction of DCM extract of F. vulgaris illustrated the most growth inhibitory effect. Conclusion: Presence of furanocoumarins seems to be an important feature in which they may play dominant role, compared to other classes of secondary methabolites. This species contain some phytochemicals responsible for biological activities. MeOH extract and its 60% fraction displayed the highest amount of antioxidant activity. Comparing fractions, 20% fraction of the MeOH extract showed the highest amount of total phenol as well as high flavonoid content. Among fractions, 60%,20% ,40% fractions of the MeOH extract owned the highest amount of total phenol content ,respectively. Among all the extracts, the 40% VLC fraction of DCM extract of F. vulgaris indicated the most antimicrobial potency.