Abstract
The current research work aimed at the phytochemical, biological, and in-silico properties of hydro-methanol extract and n-hexane fraction of Crateva adansonii aerial parts. Total bioactive content and UHPLC-MS analysis were used to determine the phytochemical composition. Regarding biological activities, antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelation) and enzyme inhibition (against α-amylase, tyrosinase, acetylcholinesterase -AChE, and butyrylcholinesterase -BChE) activities were assessed. The hydro-methanol extract contained higher phenolic (28.09 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid (65.61 mg RE/g extract) contents, which might be correlated with the higher antioxidant potential of this extract. For the enzyme assays, the n-hexane fraction was most active against BChE and α-amylase, while the methanol extract presented higher inhibition values against AChE and tyrosinase enzymes. Likewise, different phytocompounds have been tentatively identified by UHPLC-MS of hydro-methanol extract; most of these belonged to phenolic and flavonoid classes. Furthermore, three important identified phytocompounds (isovitexin, robinetin 3-rutinoside, and luteolin 7-robinobioside), were selected for in-silico computational studies against the tyrosinase enzyme. The present investigation revealed that the studied extract/fraction of C. adansonii are likely sources of phytoconstituents identified through UHPLC-MS with considerable antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties. To conclude, the evaluated plant should be further investigated for the isolation of bioactive molecules which can be utilized in phytopharmaceuticals.
•Crateva adansonii is a medicinal plant known to possess different traditional uses.•Hydro-methanol and n-hexane solvent extract/fraction were screened for phytochemical, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibition activities.•The hydro-methanol extract was found to contain considerable bioactive compounds and biological potential.•The molecular docking studies further highlighted the interaction between the important phytochemicals and the tyrosinase enzymes.