PHYTOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF Hellenocarum amplifolium GROWN WILDLY IN SULAYMANIYAH, IRAQ
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36103/ptee5d59Keywords:
Phenols, Volatile oils, Antioxidant, Nephroprotection, Ochratoxin AAbstract
This study investigated the phytochemical composition and biological activities of Hellenocarum amplifolium from four regions in Sulaymaniyah Province, Iraqi Kurdistan: Hawraman, Qandil, Penjwin, and Sharbazir. The plant specimens were harvested during the pre-flowering phase, specifically between April and May 2021. Chemical analysis revealed that the Hawraman samples contained the highest levels of phenolics, flavonoids, and bioactive compounds (e.g., gallic acid, quercetin, kaempferol), while Qandil samples were richest in essential oils (e.g., linalool, limonene, α-pinene). Hawraman extracts exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity and provided significant protection against ochratoxin A-induced cytotoxicity. The extract also demonstrated notable antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli at 5000 µg/mL, surpassing some reference antibiotics. These findings highlight H. amplifolium as a promising source of antioxidative and antimicrobial compounds. The study aimed to profile the plant’s phytochemicals, evaluate its antioxidant and antibacterial activities, and assess its protective effects against OTA-induced cytotoxicity.
References
1. Akbari, P., S., Braber, S., Varasteh, A., Alizadeh, J., Garssen and J., Fink-Gremmels 2017. The intestinal barrier as an emerging target in the toxicological assessment of mycotoxins, Archives of Toxicology. 91(3) 1007–1029. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-016-1794-8
2. Al-Nashi, T. A. W 2023. Molds and mycotoxins in ration wheat flour in Sulaimani province, Basic Sciences Journal. 25(1) 1–9. https://doi.org/10.29072/basjs.20230207
3. Alsaloom, A. N. 2023. Testing and evaluation of bioactive compounds in soybean, Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 54(1) 85–92. https://doi.org/10.36103/IJAS.V54I1.1678
4. Amin, H. D. M., Z. S., Lazim and T.A.W., Nashi. 2023. Phytochemical screening of Rheum Ribes root, leaves and flowering stem and biological activity of the root, IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 1158(4) 042068. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1158/4/042068
5. Brighente, I., M., Dias, L., Verdi and M., Pizzolatti. 2007. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of some Brazilian species, Pharmaceutical Biology. 45(2) 156–161. https://doi.org/10.1080/13880200601113131
6. Cameron, G. N. and B. D., Eshelman. 1996. Growth and reproduction of hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) in response to naturally occurring levels of dietary protein, Journal of Mammalogy. 77(1) 220–231. https://doi.org/10.2307/1382723
7. Chu, W. L., Y. W., Lim, A. K., Radhakrishnan and P. E., Lim. 2010. Protective effect of aqueous extract from Spirulina platensis against cell death induced by free radicals, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 10(1) 53. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-10-53
8. Cipriani, C., R. Tardugno, A. Di Sotto, M. Eufemi, G. Mazzanti, and S. Di Giacomo, 2025. Bioactive compounds as alternative approaches for antibacterial and nephroprotective protection: focus on Phyllanthus spp., Antibiotics. 14(2) 144. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14020144
9. De Fazio, R., F. Oppedisano, G. Caioni, B. Tilocca, C. Piras, and D. Britti, 2024. Plants with antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, a meta-analysis for green veterinary pharmacology applications, Microorganisms. 12(9) 1784. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12091784
10. Farah, N., M. Abadi, A. Ghorbani, R. Rahimi, and H. Karimi, 2025. Bactericidal activities of selected medicinal plants against multi-drug resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains, Appl. Ecol. Environ. Res. 23(2) 2411–2423. https://doi.org/10.15666/aeer/2302_24112423
11. Forbes, B., D. Saham and Weissfeld. 2007. Diagnostic Microbiology, 2nd edition. Mosby, Elsevier, USA. pp. 85–90.
12. Gupta, R., A. Srivastava and R. Lall. 2018. Ochratoxins and Citrinin, Veterinary Toxicology, Elsevier. pp. 1019–1027. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811410-0.00072-6
13. Han, L., G. Wang, N. Chen, Z. Fang, Y. Xiao, M. Zhang, K. Gerelt, Y. Qian, R. Lai, and Y. Zhou, 2022. A superefficient ochratoxin A hydrolase with promising potential for industrial applications. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 88(2) e01964-21. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01964-2
14. Ibrahim, M. H., H. Z., Jaafar, A., Rahmat, and Z. A., Rahman. 2011. 'Effects of nitrogen fertilization on synthesis of primary and secondary metabolites in three varieties of kacip fatimah (Labisia pumila Blume)'. International journal of molecular sciences. 12(8):5238-54. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms12085238
15. Jeff-Agboola, Y. 2022. A review of the impact of mycotoxin contamination on poultry performances, Medico Research Chronicles. 9(1) 1–19.
16. Kőszegi, T. and M., Poór. 2016. Ochratoxin A: Molecular interactions, mechanisms of toxicity and prevention at the molecular level, Toxins. 8(4) 111. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins8040111
17. Kumar, P., D.K., Mahato, B., Sharma, R., Borah, S., Haque, M.M.C., Mahmud, A.K., Shah, D., Rawal, H., Bora, and S., Bui. 2020. Ochratoxins in food and feed: Occurrence and its impact on human health and management strategies. Toxicon, 187, 151–162. ,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.08.031
18. Leskovar, D. and Y. A., Othman. 2018. Organic and conventional farming differentially influenced soil respiration, physiology, growth and head quality of artichoke cultivars, Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 18(3) 865–880. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-95162018005002502
19. Mohajeri, M., B., Behnam, A. F., Cicero and A., Sahebkar. 2018. Protective effects of curcumin against aflatoxicosis: A comprehensive review, Journal of Cellular Physiology, 233(4) 3552–3577. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.26212
20. Muhammad, I., A., Shalmani, M., Ali, Q.H., Yang, H., Ahmad and F. Li. 2021. Mechanisms regulating the dynamics of photosynthesis under abiotic stresses, Frontiers in Plant Science. 11: 615942. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.615942
21. OECD. 2001. Acute Oral Toxicity Fixed Dose Procedure. OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals No. 420. OECD Publishing. Paris. pp. 1–14.
22. Radovanović, B., J., Mladenović, A., Radovanović, R., Pavlović and V., Nikolić. 2015. Phenolic composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of Allium porrum L. (Serbia) extracts, Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 3(9) 564–569. https://doi.org/10.12691/jfnr-3-9-1
23. Reduron, J. P. 2020. Taxonomy, origin and importance of the Apiaceae family. In: Carrots and Related Apiaceae Crops. CABI, pp. 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781789240955.0001
24. Salasib, A. 2020. A review of ochratoxin A occurrence, condition for the formation and analytical methods, International Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology. 6(2) 180–185. https://doi.org/10.17352/2455-815X.000071
25. Sayed-Ahmad, B., T., Talou, Z., Saad, A., Hijazi and O., Merah. 2017. The Apiaceae: Ethnomedicinal family as source for industrial uses, Industrial Crops and Products. 109. 661–671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.09.027
26. Shams, M., S.Z., Esfahan, E.Z., Esfahan, H.N., Dashtaki, A., Dursun and E., Yildirim. 2016. Effects of climatic factors on the quantity of essential oil and dry matter yield of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), Indian Journal of Science and Technology. 9(6) 1–4. https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst/2016/v9i6/61301
27. Sharma, N., A., Jana, N., Pathak, C., Singh and P., Singh. 2017. A preliminary study on the antibacterial effects of ethanolic extract of Psidium guajava leaves on bacteria isolated from urinary tract infection, International Journal of Biotechnology and Biochemistry. 13(2) 183–189. https://www.ripublication.com/ijbb17/ijbbv13n2_09.pdf
28. Tan, Z. J., F. F., Li and J. M., Xing. 2011. Separation and purification of Aloe anthraquinones using PEG/salt aqueous two-phase system, Separation Science and Technology. 46. 1503–1510. https://doi.org/10.1080/01496395.2011.563766
29. Wan, N., J., Z., Lan, X., Wu, Q., Chen, Zheng and X., Gong. 2022. Optimization of steam distillation process and chemical constituents of volatile oil from Angelicae sinensis radix, Separations. 9(6) 137. https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9060137
30. Xu, Z., H. Li, X. Qin, T. Wang, J. Hao, J. Zhao, J. Wang, R. Wang, D. Wang, S. Wei, and H. Cai, , Zhao, Y. 2019. Antibacterial evaluation of plants extracts against ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli by microcalorimetry and principal component analysis, AMB Expr. 9. 101. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-019-0829-y
31. Zakharova, E., E., Kljuykov, G., Degtjareva, T. H., Samigullin, U., Ukrainskaya and S., Downie. 2016. A taxonomic study of
the genus Hellenocarum H. Wolff (Umbelliferae Apioideae) based on morphology, fruit anatomy, and molecular data, Turkish Journal of Botany. 40(2) 176–185. https://doi.org/10.3906/bot-1504-40
32. Zou, J., Y., Guo, X., Guo, K., Zhao and Y., Zheng. 2019. Flavonoid Biosynthesis Is Likely More Susceptible to Elevation and Tree Age Than Other Branch Pathways Involved in Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis in Ginkgo Leaves, Frontiers in Plant Science. 10. 983. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.00983


2.jpg)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5774-5906