Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
2
Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Arish University, Al-Arish, 45511, Egypt
3
Mycological Research Department, Plant Pathology Research Institute, ARC, Giza, Egypt
4
4Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
Abstract
Medicinal plants have historically been a vital source of therapeutic agents and continue to play a significant role in the discovery of novel drugs due to their rich phytochemical diversity and biological activities. Despite their widespread use, systematic evaluation of their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties remains essential for validating their therapeutic potential. In this study, the antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of aqueous extracts from the medicinal plants Anchusa aegyptiaca L. and Echium angustifolium Mill. were evaluated at concentrations of 1%, 3%, and 5%. Antimicrobial efficacy was also assessed against five bacterial and five fungal strains using the agar well diffusion method. Cytotoxicity was determined via the Vicia faba root tip assay, with chromosomal aberrations serving as indicators of genotoxicity. Echium angustifolium exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 0.0423 mg/mL, which may be attributed to its rich content of secondary metabolites, including phenols (1.04%), flavonoids (0.31%), and alkaloids (0.48%). The 5% aqueous extract of E. angustifolium was the most effective in inhibiting the growth of fungi such as Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, and Alternaria alternata, producing inhibition zones of 15 mm, 14.5 mm, and 14 mm, respectively. Additionally, the same 5% extract demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Ralstonia solanacearum, and Micrococcus luteus, with inhibition zones measuring 21 mm, 31 mm, 34 mm, and 31 mm, respectively. Meanwhile, Echium angustifolium exhibited the highest concentrations of phytochemicals, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial efficacy, while demonstrating relatively low levels of cytotoxicity and chromosomal aberrations. Notably, the 1% aqueous extract of Anchusa aegyptiaca reduced the incidence of chromosomal aberrations by 17.14% compared to the control group (which exhibited 20.81% aberrations). These findings suggest that these plant extracts possess cytoprotective properties that may mitigate genotoxic effects, supporting their safety at therapeutic doses. Consequently, the risk of adverse effects at clinically relevant concentrations appears to be minimal.
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