Phytochemical screening and pharmacological evaluation of Humboldtia Sanjappae Sasidh and Sujanapal Leguminosae

Abstract

The present study investigates the phytochemical composition and anti-inflammatorypotential of Humboldtia sanjappae, focusing on the effect of extraction solvents andplant parts, and employing a multidisciplinary approach encompassing phytochemicalanalysis, pharmacokinetics, toxicity evaluation, and both in vitro and in vivoassessments. Ethanol was identified as the most effective extraction solvent, with thebark yielding higher antioxidant activity and phytochemical richness compared to theleaves. The ethanol bark extract underwent LC-MS/MS analysis, revealing 57phytochemicals categorized into 14 chemical classes, with flavones, phenols, andcatechins being predominant. ADMET-based pharmacokinetic predictions indicatedfavorable drug-likeness, and acute oral toxicity studies confirmed its safety profile(GHS Category 4).Network pharmacology analysis identified 117 potential inflammation-related targets,with luteolin and CYP19A1 emerging as key nodes. Gene ontology and pathwayenrichment analysis revealed the extract’s involvement in numerous biologicalprocesses and pathways related to inflammation, including PI3K-Akt and AGE-RAGEsignaling. In vitro studies using RAW 264.7 macrophages showed dose-dependentinhibition of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and nitric oxide production, along withdownregulation of NF-κB and COX-2 expression. In vivo acute and chronicinflammation models in Swiss albino mice demonstrated significant anti-inflammatoryeffects, confirmed by histopathology, gene expression analysis, and molecular dockingstudies. Key phytochemicals such as (-)-Epicatechin, 5,7-Dihydroxy-8-prenylflavone,and Neoeriocitrin exhibited strong binding affinities to pro-inflammatory targets.Overall, the study highlights the therapeutic potential of H. sanjappae bark ethanolextract as a natural anti-inflammatory agent, supporting its traditional use and offeringpromising insights for future drug discovery and nutraceutical development.