Exploring the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Wilckia maritima: In Vitro and In Silico Investigations

Abstract

This research aimed to assess the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of methanol extract of Wilckia maritima, a plant belonging to the family Brassicaceae, which is enriched with natural antioxidants. Qualitative phytochemical studies showed the presence of numerous compounds including glycosides, phenols, triterpenoids, and GC-MS studies revealed the presence of 35 bioactive components, including n-hexadecanoic acid (26.96%), 9,12,15 octadecatrienoic acid (cis) (25.52%), 3,5 di-hydroxy-6-methyl 2,3-di-hydro-4-pyran 4-one (14.35%), and 3-tertiary butyl-4-hydroxy-anisol (11.68%) as major components, which are thought to be responsible for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials of methanol extract of W. maritima., flavonoids, steroids, tannins, and saponins. The antioxidant potential of the extract was determined by performing various assays, including DPPH free radical scavenging, ferrous reducing, and hydrogen peroxide assays, which showed significant percentage inhibition (83.55 ± 0.89, 79.40 ± 1.17, and 81.26 ± 0.36%, respectively) as compared to ascorbic acid (standard). The extract also exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity with percentage inhibition 65.66 ± 0.42% compared to standard ibuprofen, which showed 73.20 ± 0.21% inhibition. In vivo analysis further confirmed this anti-inflammatory potential of the extract, showing a 75.55 ± 0.11% reduction in edema at 300 mg/kg as compared with standard diclofenac sodium 70.27 ± 0.012%. Moreover, in silico investigations revealed that the phytocompounds in W. maritima exhibited excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics, which could provide novel biological molecules for target receptors. Overall, our findings suggest that W. maritima can be utilized as a potential resource of natural compounds with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory potential, with promising therapeutic effect in relieving various ailments related to inflammatory response.