Polyphenols from Erythrina crista-galli: Structures, Molecular Docking and Phytoestrogenic Activity.
OBJECTIVE
The current study aimed at exploring the secondary metabolites content of Erythrina crista-galli aqueous methanol extract and assessing its phytoestrogenic and cytoprotective activities.


METHODS
Isolation of the compounds was carried out using conventional chromatographic techniques. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on the UV, NMR spectral data along with their mass-spectrometric analyses. The phytoestrogenic activity was evaluated in-silico and in vitro using the Arabidopsis thaliana pER8: GUS reporter assay and the proliferation-enhancing activity of MCF-7 cells.


RESULTS
Phytochemical investigation of E. crista-galli aqueous methanol extract resulted in the isolation and identification of five flavonoids. The plant extract and its fractions showed significant estrogenic activities compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Five flavonoids were identified from E. crista-galli aqueous methanol extract. To the best of our knowledge, among these flavonoids, apigenin-7-O-rhamnosyl-6-C-glucoside was isolated for the first time from nature. Moreover, luteolin-6-C-glucoside was isolated for the first time from this plant. The plant revealed promising phytoestrogenic activities. This gives rationale to some of its pharmacological properties and suggests additional phytoestrogenic effects, which have not been reported yet.
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt. naglaa.saad@pharma.asu.edu.eg.
Naglaa S
NS
Ashmawy
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt. ashour@pharma.asu.edu.eg.|Department of Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany. ashour@pharma.asu.edu.eg.
Mohamed L
ML
Ashour
Department of Biology, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany. wink@uni-heidelberg.de.
Michael
M
Wink
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt. elshazly7@yahoo.com.|Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan. elshazly7@yahoo.com.
Mohamed
M
El-Shazly
Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan. aaronfrc@kmu.edu.tw.
Fang-Rong
FR
Chang
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, British University of Egypt (BUE), Cairo 11837, Egypt. Noha.Swilam@bue.edu.eg.
Noha
N
Swilam
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt. abnaim@pharma.asu.edu.eg.
Ashraf B
AB
Abdel-Naim
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt. nahlaayoub@yahoo.de.|Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia. nahlaayoub@yahoo.de.
Nahla
N
Ayoub
D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004895:Erythrina / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D062105:Molecular Docking Simulation; D015394:Molecular Structure; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*
D048789:Phytoestrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols
Erythrina crista-galli; molecular docking study; phytoestrogenic activity; polyphenols