article · Life
This study evaluated the chemical composition and medicinal properties of Pistacia lentiscus leaves sourced from eastern Morocco. Using Soxhlet extraction with hexane and methanol solvents, chemical profiling identified linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid as the primary components of the hexane extract. High-performance liquid chromatography identified catechin as the predominant compound within the methanolic extract. Laboratory testing demonstrated that the methanolic extract provided strong antioxidant radical scavenging activity. Furthermore, the extracts displayed notable antimicrobial properties when tested against bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria innocua, and Escherichia coli, as well as fungal strains Geotrichum candidum and Rhodotorula glutinis. Computational models and molecular docking analysed drug likeness, metabolism, distribution, and potential toxicities. Together, these laboratory and computational findings validate traditional medicinal uses of the plant and indicate its value for pharmaceutical development.
Bacterial resistance and oxidative damage present ongoing challenges for human health and treatment development. By confirming the chemical constituents and antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the mastic tree, this research scientifically validates centuries of traditional medicine. It provides foundational evidence that naturally derived plant compounds can serve as starting points for safe and effective therapeutic alternatives.
This research identifies bioactive plant compounds that could inform early-stage discovery pipelines for pharmaceutical developers seeking new antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. Because the findings rely exclusively on in vitro laboratory assays and computational simulations, the work sits at a fundamental, early research phase. Extensive pre-clinical validation, formulation testing, and in vivo safety trials would be required before any commercial natural health or therapeutic product could be realised.
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The mastic tree, scientifically known as Pistacia lentiscus, which belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, was used in this study. The aim of this research was to analyze the chemical composition of this plant and assess its antioxidant and antibacterial properties using both laboratory experiments and computer simulations through molecular docking, a method that predicts the binding strength of a small molecule to a protein. The soxhlet method (SE) was employed to extract substances from the leaves of P. lentiscus found in the eastern region of Morocco. Hexane and methanol were the solvents used for the extraction process. The n-hexane extract was subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to identify its fatty acid content. The methanolic extract underwent high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) to determine the presence of phenolic compounds. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH spectrophotometric test. The findings revealed that the main components in the n-hexane extract were linoleic acid (40.97 ± 0.33%), oleic acid (23.69 ± 0.12%), and palmitic acid (22.83 ± 0.10%). Catechin (37.05 ± 0.15%) was identified as the predominant compound in the methanolic extract through HPLC analysis. The methanolic extract exhibited significant DPPH radical scavenging, with an IC50 value of 0.26 ± 0.14 mg/mL. The antibacterial activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria innocua, and Escherichia coli, while the antifungal activity was evaluated against Geotrichum candidum and Rhodotorula glutinis. The P. lentiscus extract demonstrated notable antimicrobial effects. Additionally, apart from molecular docking, other important factors, such as drug similarity, drug metabolism and distribution within the body, potential adverse effects, and impact on bodily systems, were considered for the substances derived from P. lentiscus. Scientific algorithms, such as Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS), Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion (ADME), and Pro-Tox II, were utilized for this assessment. The results obtained from this research support the traditional medicinal usage of P. lentiscus and suggest its potential for drug development.
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DOI: 10.3390/life13061393
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