Journal of Multidisciplinary Applied Natural Science
##plugins.themes.gdThemes.journalSlogan##
Scopus CiteScore 2025
2.1
Calculated on 05 May, 2025
SJR 2025
0.25
Powered by scimagojr.com
##plugins.themes.gdThemes.journalSlogan##
2.1
Calculated on 05 May, 2025
0.25
Powered by scimagojr.com
https://doi.org/10.47352/jmans.2774-3047.458
Hajar Sadrati
Bouchra Ezahidi
Abdelhakim Taha
Tarik Ainane
Ayoub Ainane
Younes Abbas
Sanaa Sabour Alaoui
The accelerating global crisis of antimicrobial resistance and oxidative stress-related diseases has intensified the search for novel therapeutic agents derived from natural sources. Polyphenolic compounds, abundant in many medicinal plants, have emerged as key candidates due to their potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Ruta chalepensis L., a perennial species belonging to the Rutaceae family, is traditionally used in Mediterranean ethnomedicine for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and digestive properties. In Morocco, where phytotherapy forms a cornerstone of rural healthcare practices, this species remains underexplored despite its wide distribution across the Middle Atlas and Rif regions. The present study aims to determine the phytochemical profile and its biological activity of Moroccan R. chalepensis by conducting a comprehensive organ-specific analysis. Methanolic extracts from the plant’s flowers, leaves, and stems were evaluated for their total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) using the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods. Antioxidant potential was assessed through DPPH radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, while antibacterial activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9721, and Streptococcus sp. CCMM/B24 using disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) protocols. Among all plant parts, floral extracts exhibited the highest TPC (160 ± 2.38 mg GAE/g DW) and TFC (30.1 ± 1.32 mg QE/g DW), alongside superior antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 23.1 ± 1.15 μg/mL). Notably, Gram-positive strains showed greater susceptibility to the extracts, with S. aureus being the most affected. These results underscore the therapeutic potential of Ruta chalepensis, particularly from Moroccan chemotypes, as a valuable source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. They also reinforce the importance of valorizing Morocco’s endemic medicinal flora in addressing contemporary biomedical challenges.
[1] M. Fennane and M. Rejdali. (2016). "Aromatic and Medicinal Plants of Morocco: Richness, Diversity and Threats". Bulletin de l'Institut Scientifique de Rabat, Section Sciences de la Vie. 38 : 27-42.
[2] M. Oyaizu. (1986). "Studies on Products of Browning Reaction: Antioxidative Activities of Products of Browning Reaction Prepared from Glucosamine". The Japanese Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics. 44 (6): 307-315. 10.5264/eiyogakuzashi.44.307.
[3] V. L. Singleton, R. Orthofer, and R. M. Lamuela-Raventós. (1999). In: "Methods in Enzymology, vol. 299". 152-178. 10.1016/S0076-6879(99)99017-1.
[4] M. C. Dias, D. C. G. A. Pinto, and A. M. S. Silva. (2021). "Plant Flavonoids: Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activity". Molecules. 26 (17): 5377. 10.3390/molecules26175377.
[5] R. Latif and T. Nawaz. (2025). "Medicinal plants and human health: a comprehensive review of bioactive compounds, therapeutic effects, and applications". Phytochemistry Reviews. 25 (3): 2299-2342. 10.1007/s11101-025-10194-7.
[6] M. Selloum and R. Belhattab. (2025). "Exploring the Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Ruta chalepensis Before, During, and After Flowering". FABAD Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 50 (3): 583-596. 10.55262/fabadeczacilik.1648281.
[7] A. Szewczyk, A. Marino, J. Molinari, H. Ekiert, and N. Miceli. (2022). "Phytochemical Characterization and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Agitated Cultures of Three Rue Species: Ruta chalepensis, Ruta corsica, and Ruta graveolens". Antioxidants. 11 (3): 592. 10.3390/antiox11030592.
[8] S. M. Alotaibi, M. S. Saleem, and J. G. Al-Humaidi. (2018). "Phytochemical Contents and Biological Evaluation of Ruta chalepensis L. Growing in Saudi Arabia". Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal. 26 (4): 504-508. 10.1016/j.jsps.2018.02.008.
[9] A. R. Althaher, A. O. Sawsan, W. A. Mirna, H. A. Hanan, F. S. Reham, M. S. Bourghli, and A. Mastinu. (2024). "Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Activity of Ruta chalepensis L. Ethanolic Extract". Chemistry & Biodiversity. 21 (4): e202400026. 10.1002/cbdv.202400026.
[10] N. E. Bekkar, B. Meddah, Y. S. Cakmak, and B. Keskin. (2021). "Phenolic Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Zizyphus lotus L. and Ruta chalepensis L. Growing in Mascara (Western Algeria)". Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences. 10 (5): 3004. 10.15414/jmbfs.3004.
[11] I. Ouerghemmi, I. Bettaieb, F. Rebey, Z. Rahali, S. Bourgou, L. Pistelli, R. Ksouri, B. Marzouk, and M. S. Tounsi. (2017). "Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Phenolic Compounds from Extracts of Cultivated and Wild-Grown Tunisian Ruta chalepensis". Journal of Food and Drug Analysis. 25 (2). 10.1016/j.jfda.2016.04.001.
[12] K. M. Elsherif, M. A. Sulaiman, and A. Mlitan. (2026). "Ruta graveolens L. Leaves as a Potential Source of Natural Antioxidants and Phytochemicals: A Study from Msallata, Libya". Baghdad Journal of Biochemistry and Applied Biological Sciences. 7 (2): 155-163. 10.47419/bjbabs.v7i2.446.
[13] M. Barbouchi, B. Benzidia, K. Elamrani, M. Sabiri, M. El Idrissi, and M. Choukrad. (2024). "Phytochemical Screening, Quantitative Analysis and Antioxidant Properties of Crude Extracts from Stems, Leaves, and Flowers of Three Ruta Species". Journal of King Saud University: Science. 36 : 100287. 10.1016/j.jksus.2024.100287.
[14] H. Ayyobi, M. Khorram, and F. Sefidkon. (2014). "Effect of Drying Methods on Essential Oil Yield, Total Phenol Content, and Antioxidant Capacity of Peppermint and Dill". Ratarstvo i Povrtarstvo. 51 (1): 18-22. 10.5937/ratpov51-5077.
[15] A. Benbott, L. Bahri, A. Boubendir, and A. Yahia. (2013). "Study of the Chemical Components of Peganum harmala and Evaluation of Acute Toxicity of Alkaloids Extracted in Wistar Albino Mice". Journal of Materials and Environmental Science. 4 (4): 558-565.
[16] R. G. Woisky and A. Salatino. (1998). "Analysis of Propolis: Some Parameters and Procedures for Chemical Quality Control". Journal of Apicultural Research. 37 (2): 99-105. 10.1080/00218839.1998.11100961.
[17] I. F. F. Benzie and J. J. Strain. (1996). "The Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) as a Measure of "Antioxidant Power": The FRAP Assay". Analytical Biochemistry. 239 (1): 70-76. 10.1006/abio.1996.0292.
[18] N. Defta, A. Barbu, V. A. Ion, E. N. Pogurschi, A. Osman, L. C. Cune, and L. A. Badulescu. (2025). "Exploring the Relationship Between Socio-Demographic Factors and Consumers' Perception of Food Promotions in Romania". Foods. 14 (4). 10.3390/foods14040599.
[19] T. Vogt. (2010). "Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis". Molecular Plant. 3 (1): 2-20. 10.1093/mp/ssp106.
[20] D. Treutter. (2005). "Significance of Flavonoids in Plant Resistance and Enhancement of Their Biosynthesis". Plant Biology. 7 : 581-591. 10.1055/s-2005-873009.
[21] M. Mokhtar and M. Bouaziz. (2022). "Phenolic Content and In Vitro Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Algerian Ruta graveolens L". Chemistry and Biodiversity. 19 (9): e202200545. 10.1002/cbdv.202200545.
[22] A. Ghasemzadeh, H. Z. E. Jaafar, and A. Rahmat. (2012). "Flavonoid Compounds and Their Antioxidant Activity in Extracts of Some Tropical Plants". Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. 6 (13): 1229-1233. 10.5897/JMPR11.1531.
[23] C. A. Rice-Evans, N. J. Miller, and G. Paganga. (1997). "Antioxidant Properties of Phenolic Compounds". Trends in Plant Science. 2 (4): 152-159. 10.1016/S1360-1385(97)01018-2.
[24] K. E. Heim, A. R. Tagliaferro, and D. J. Bobilya. (2002). "Flavonoid Antioxidants: Chemistry, Metabolism and Structure-Activity Relationships". The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 13 : 572-584. 10.1016/S0955-2863(02)00208-5.
[25] P. G. Pietta. (2000). "Flavonoids as Antioxidants". Journal of Natural Products. 63 : 1035-1042. 10.1021/np9904509.
[26] Y. Cai, Q. Luo, M. Sun, and H. Corke. (2004). "Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic Compounds of 112 Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants Associated with Anticancer". Life Sciences. 74 : 2157-2184. 10.1016/j.lfs.2003.09.047.
[27] T. Benali, H. Chtibi, M. El Yamani, I. Marmouzi, A. Khabbach, H. El Achbani, and K. Hammani. (2020). "Effect of Extraction Solvent on Total Phenol Content, Total Flavonoids Content, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities Against Phytopathogenic and Foodborne Pathogen Bacteria of Ruta montana Extracts". Moroccan Journal of Chemistry. 8 (2): 424-435.
[28] A. Faidi, A. Chakchouk Mtibaa, L. Mellouli, M. Treilhou, N. Téné, and N. Allouche. (2025). "Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Enarthrocarpus clavatus Delile ex Godr Flowers Extracts". Natural Product Research. 40 (8): 2184-2194. 10.1080/14786419.2025.2457119.
[29] D. Floareș, D. Obistioiu, A. Hulea, M. A. Suleiman, I. Popescu, A. Berbecea, I. Samfira, and I. Radulov. (2025). "Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties of Sambucus nigra L. (Elderflower) Oil: A Molecular Docking and Biochemical Study". Agronomy. 15 (2): 310. 10.3390/agronomy15020310.
[30] H. M. Goshu, S. A. Mamo, B. A. Fitwi, W. E. Worku, Y. W. Kasa, Y. G. Ambaw, A. A. Habesha, S. A. Kallu, and A. M. Wubaye. (2026). "In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Methanolic Extract of Eucalyptus tereticornis and Ruta chalepensis Against Selected Pathogenic Bacteria". Veterinary and Animal Science. 32 : 100639. 10.1016/j.vas.2026.100639.
[31] K. Poole. (2004). "Efflux-Mediated Multiresistance in Gram-Negative Bacteria". Clinical Microbiology and Infection. 10 (1): 12-26. 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2004.00763.x.
[32] T. P. T. Cushnie and A. J. Lamb. (2011). "Recent Advances in Understanding the Antibacterial Properties of Flavonoids". International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 38 : 99-107. 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2011.02.014.
[33] M. Daglia. (2012). "Polyphenols as Antimicrobial Agents". Current Opinion in Biotechnology. 23 : 174-181. 10.1016/j.copbio.2011.08.007.
[34] J. Nesa, S. K. Jana, A. Sadat, K. Biswas, A. Kati, O. Kaya, R. Mondal, P. Dam, M. Thakur, A. Kumar, M. Hossain, L. R. Lima, S. B. Rezende, D. Bhattacharjya, D. Gangopadhyay, S. Ghorai, S. Altuntas, A. K. Panda, P. Chakrabarti, S. Swarnakar, J. Chakraborty, B. Yilmaz, M. L. R. Macedo, O. L. Franco, M. H. Cardoso, and A. K. Mandal. (2022). "Antimicrobial Potential of a Ponericin-Like Peptide Isolated from Bombyx mori L. Hemolymph in Response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection". Scientific Reports. 12 : 15493. 10.1038/s41598-022-19450-8.
[35] A. Borges, C. Ferreira, M. J. Saavedra, and M. Simões. (2013). "Antibacterial Activity and Mode of Action of Ferulic and Gallic Acids Against Pathogenic Bacteria". Microbial Drug Resistance. 19 (4): 256-265. 10.1089/mdr.2012.0244.
[36] K. N. Venugopala, V. Rashmi, and B. Odhav. (2013). "Review on Natural Coumarin Lead Compounds for Their Pharmacological Activity". BioMed Research International. 2013 : 963248. 10.1155/2013/963248.
[37] J.-L. Wolfender, J.-M. Nuzillard, J. J. J. van der Hooft, J.-H. Renault, and S. Bertrand. (2019). "Accelerating Metabolite Identification in Natural Product Research: Toward an Ideal Combination of Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Tandem Mass Spectrometry and NMR Profiling". Analytical Chemistry. 91 (1): 704-742. 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b05112.
[38] J. Kellogg, M. Paine, J. S. McCune, N. H. Oberlies, and N. B. Cech. (2019). "Selection and Characterization of Botanical Natural Products for Research Studies: A NaPDI Center Recommended Approach". Natural Product Reports. 36 (8): 1196-1221. 10.1039/C8NP00065D.
[39] M. Selloum. (2026). "Activités Antimicrobienne et Antioxydante des Extraits de Ruta chalepensis L". Université Ferhat Abbas Sétif 1, Algeria.
