This study assessed the larvicidal activity of methanol and hexane fruit peel extracts from Hylocereus polyrhizus (red dragon fruit), Citrus sinensis (sweet orange), Punica granatum (pomegranate), Annona cherimola (cherimoya), and Physalis peruviana (groundcherry) against third‐instar larvae of Culex pipiens, following WHO bioassay guidelines. Larval mortality was recorded at 24 and 48 h, and LC50, LC90, and LC95 values were calculated. Methanol extracts demonstrated greater larvicidal activity compared with hexane extracts. The most effective plants were H. polyrhizus, C. sinensis, and P. granatum. Based on 48‐h LC50 values, methanol extract toxicity followed the order: H. polyrhizus (157.73 ppm) < C. sinensis (180.22 ppm) < P. granatum (190.38 ppm) < A. cherimola (249.98 ppm) < P. peruviana (507.68 ppm). For hexane extracts, the ranking was H. polyrhizus (176.57 ppm) < C. sinensis (220.36 ppm) < P. granatum (252.63 ppm) < A. cherimola (307.69 ppm) < P. peruviana (651.06 ppm). GC/MS analysis of the five n‐hexane extracts identified 57 compounds, mainly alkanes, alkenes, aldehydes, esters, ketones, triterpenoids, and fatty acid esters. In Physalis, fatty acid esters were predominant, followed by fatty acids and related compounds. UPLC/MS analysis of methanol extracts tentatively identified 16, 23, 21, 5, and 27 metabolites in Annona, Citrus, Hylocereus, Punica, and Physalis, respectively. Overall, methanol peel extracts, particularly from H. polyrhizus, C. sinensis, and P. granatum, exhibited strong larvicidal activity against Cx. pipiens, highlighting their potential as eco‐friendly alternatives for mosquito control.
L. al-Shuraym, L. A. Alkeridis, H. Alharbi et al.· Entomological Research· 0 citations
ABSTRACT Euphorbia members (Euphorbiaceae) are valuable sources of lead compounds for potential drug discovery. This study was conducted to evaluate, for the first time, the phytoconstituents, antioxidant capacity, enzyme inhibitory, and cytotoxic properties of E. peplis . Extracts were prepared from the aerial parts using ethyl acetate (EtOAc), ethanol (EtOH), 70% EtOH, and water. Results showed that the 70% EtOH and EtOH extracts contained the highest levels of total phenolics (68.12 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (45.49 mg RE/g). UPLC‐ESI‐MSn analysis revealed a variety of phytochemicals, including flavonoids, cinnamic acid derivatives, tannins, triterpenoids, and saponins, with 24 metabolites tentatively identified. PCA grouped these metabolites into three clusters, and their distribution was visualized with a heatmap. Polar extracts demonstrated strong antioxidant activity, with the 70% EtOH extract showing the highest values in most assays (DPPH = 385.50 mg TE/g; ABTS = 466.31 mg TE/g; CUPRAC = 439.95 mg TE/g; FRAP = 305.07 mg TE/g; PBD = 2.45 mmol TE/g). The EtOH and EtOAc extracts exhibited the strongest anti‐acetylcholinesterase (2.83 mg GALAE/mg) and anti‐butyrylcholinesterase (2.18 mg GALAE/mg) activities, respectively. Both the 70% EtOH and EtOH extracts showed the best anti‐tyrosinase effects (54.40 and 53.39 mg KAE/g; p ≥ 0.05). The EtOAc extract was more toxic toward SHSY5Y cells, with a viability of 4.31%, compared to 8.18% in normal KEK293 cells. Network pharmacology identified 11 common targets for E. peplis metabolites, with AKT1, EGFR, GSK3B, ESR1/ESR2, and CCND1 serving as key hubs. Pathway enrichment analysis highlighted PI3K‐Akt, EGFR, and hormone‐related pathways. Docking and molecular dynamics simulations confirmed stable multi‐target binding. These findings suggest that E. peplis could be a promising source of antioxidants and compounds with potential anticancer and enzyme‐inhibitory activities relevant to human diseases.
Sakina Yagi, Esraa A. Elhawary, Omayma A. Eldahshna et al.· Food Science & Nutrition· 0 citations
