AUTHOR=Juhi Umme Habiba , El-Nashar Heba A. S. , Al Faruq Abdullah , Bhuia Md. Shimul , Sultana Irin , Alam Syedul , Abuyousef Farah , Saleh Na’il , El-Shazly Mohamed , Islam Muhammad Torequl 

TITLE=Phytochemical analysis and biological investigation of Cheilanthes tenuifolia (Burm.f.) Swartz

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1366889

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2024.1366889

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold><italic>Cheilanthes tenuifolia</italic> is an evergreen ornamental small fern, belonging to the family Pteridaceae, that grows in warm and rocky regions worldwide. Many species of <italic>Cheilanthes</italic> genus are evidently endowed with important phytochemicals and bioactivities. This study aimed to perform a preliminary phytochemical analysis of <italic>Cheilanthes tenuifolia</italic> leaves alongside an evaluation of free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and clot lysis activities of extract fractions.</p><p><bold>Materials and methods:</bold> A preliminary phytochemical analysis was done after fractionation of ethanolic extract (ECT) with <italic>n</italic>-hexane (HCT) and chloroform (CCT). Then, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, egg albumin and RBC membrane stabilization tests, disc diffusion, and human blood clot lysis assays were performed.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Phytochemical investigations suggested that the plant is rich in alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, and flavonoids. All obtained fractions exhibited concentration-dependent radical scavenging, inhibition of egg protein denaturation and RBC membrane lysis capacities. Except for antifungal tests, ECT exhibited better DPPH radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and clot lysis capacities than HCT and CCT fractions. However, all fractions exhibited a mild anti-inflammatory activity.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold><italic>C. tenuifolia</italic> might be a good source of antioxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-atherothrombotic agents. Further studies are required to isolate and characterize the active principles liable for each bioactivity, along with possible molecular interactions.</p>