Phytochemical analysis and assessment of antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties of Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters leaves.

Tetraclinis is an unexplored genus recognized for its great bioactive potential that could be explored as a medicinal herb. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties of the aqueous crude extract and subsequent organic fractions of the Algerian medicinal plant T. articulata . Moreover, polyphenols were also fully profiled by liquid chromatography with diode-array detection coupled to electrospray ionization in tandem with mass spectrometry (LC–DAD–ESI–MS n ). The analysis of the obtained results show that B-type (epi)catechin dimer and catechin were the most abundant phenolic compounds present among the nine different flavonoids identified such as: ((epi)catechin, myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol glycoside derivatives). The concentration of phenolic compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction (93.1 mg/g extract) was higher than the one of the aqueous extract (21.2 mg/g extract) and butanol fraction (43.87 mg/g extract). Furthermore, the ethyl acetate fraction revealed the strongest bioactive properties, revealing the lowest EC 50/ GI 50 values: anti-inflammatory (EC 50, 129.67 μg/mL), cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines (GI 50 , 59–189 μg/mL), antibacterial (MIC, 0.625–10 mg/mL); and especially the antioxidant capacity (EC 50 values lower than 12.7 μg/mL), even higher than the standard (Trolox). The results showed a great bioactive potential for this species, with a significant contribution of flavonoid compounds, which makes it an interesting matrix in the development of novel pharmaceutical formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]