Phytochemical Investigation, In silico/In vivo Analgesic, and Anti-inflammatory Assessment of the Egyptian Cassia occidentalis L

• Published in: Steroids 2023-08, Vol.196, p.109245-109245, Article 109245
• Main Authors: Sayed, Hanaa M., Ramadan, Mahmoud A., Salem, Heba H., Ahmad, Iqrar, Patel, Harun, Fayed, Marwa A.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analgesic; Anthraquinones; Anti-inflammatory; Cassia occidentalis L; Fabaceae; Flavonoids; Molecular docking
• ISSN: 0039-128X; 1878-5867
• DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2023.109245

•Cassia occidentalis L. is a member of the Family Fabaceae.•Lipoidal matter GLC analysis showed 12 hydrocarbons, and 6 sterols / triterpenes.•Column chromatography led to the isolation of fifteen compounds (1–15).•In-vivo evaluation of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.•Identified phytoconstituents were docked using enzymes nAChRs, COX-1, and COX-2. Cassia occidentalis L., from Fabaceae family phytochemical screening, revealed several biologically active principles mainly flavonoids and anthraquinones. GLC analysis of the lipoidal matter afforded 12 hydrocarbons: 9-dodecyl-tetradecahydro-anthracene (48.97 %), 9-dodecyl-tetradecahydro-phenanthrene (14.43 %), and 6 sterols/triterpenes: isojaspisterol (11.99%) and fatty acids were palmitic acid (50 %), and Linoleic acid (16.06%). Column chromatography led to the isolation of fifteen compounds (1–15), elucidated using spectroscopic evidence. First report of undecanoic acid (4) from the family Fabaceae, while p-dimethyl amino-benzaldehyde (15) was first time isolated from a natural origin. Eight compounds isolated for the first time from C. occidentalis L.; β-amyrin (1), β-sitosterol (2), stigmasterol (3), camphor (5), lupeol (6), chrysin (7), pectolinargenin (8), and 1, 2, 5-trihydroxy anthraquinone (14) besides five known compounds previously isolated; apigenin (9), kaempferol (10), chrysophanol (11), physcion (12), and aloe-emodin (13). In-vivo evaluation of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of C. occidentalis L. extracts where the n-butanol and total extracts showed the highest activities. The percentage of the inhibitory effect of the n-butanol extract was 29.7 at a dose of 400 mg/Kg. Furthermore, identified phytoconstituents were docked into the active sites of enzymes nAChRs, COX-1, and COX-2 to evaluate binding affinity. Phyto-compounds Physcion, aloe-emodin, and chrysophanol were found to have a good affinity for targeted receptors compared to co-crystalized inhibitors, validating the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the phytochemicals.