UPLC-ESI-MS/MS-Based Metabolomic Profiling and Biological Activities of Capparis decidua Root Bark Extracts

Bibliographic Information
Authors: Taha M.M.M.; Osman E.E.A.; Salih A.M.M.; Gouda A.E.; Mustafa N.M.E.; Ayoub S.M.H.; Shemis M.A.
Journal: Egyptian Journal of Chemistry
Publisher: National Information and Documentation Centre
Publication Date: 23 May 2026
Volume / Issue: Volume 70 / Issue 1
Pages: 31–40
ISSN: 4492285
DOI: 10.21608/EJCHEM.2026.464858.13008
Scopus: View on Scopus
Document Type: Article
Authors and Affiliations
Taha M.M.M., Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al Neelain University, Elgamhuriya avenue, Khartoum, 11121, Sudan, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Kornaish El-Nile St., Giza, 12411, Egypt; Osman E.E.A., Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Kornaish El-Nile St., Giza, 12411, Egypt; Salih A.M.M., Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al Neelain University, Elgamhuriya avenue, Khartoum, 11121, Sudan; Gouda A.E., Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Kornaish El-Nile St., Giza, 12411, Egypt; Mustafa N.M.E., Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al Neelain University, Elgamhuriya avenue, Khartoum, 11121, Sudan; Ayoub S.M.H., Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan; Shemis M.A., Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Kornaish El-Nile St., Giza, 12411, Egypt
Abstract
Capparis decidua (Forssk.) Edgew. (Tundub), a traditional Sudanese medicinal plant, exhibits diverse biological activities attributed to its rich secondary metabolites. The 85% methanol (MeOH) extract from C. decidua root bark was subjected to ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis, leading to the identification of 27 bioactive compounds. The detected metabolites were predominantly alkaloids, including stachydrine, cadabicine, glucocapparin), in addition to flavonoids such as; kaempferol, quercetin derivatives, rutin, as well as various phenolic acids. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Among the tested samples, then-butanol fraction demonstrated the strongest antioxidant activity (SC50 = 284.32 ± 1.63 μg/mL), followed by the ethyl acetate fraction (SC50 = 487.64 ± 6.90 μg/mL) and the crude extract (SC50 = 785.22 ± 5.00 μg/mL). Cytotoxicity assessment using the crystal violet staining assay revealed that all extracts exhibited low toxicity toward normal Vero cells, maintaining >79% cell viability at 1000 μg/mL. In contrast, the 85% MeOH extract showed selective cytotoxic activity against HepG2 liver cancer cells (IC50 = 61.38 ± 2.45 μg/mL), MCF-7 breast cancer cells (IC50 = 123.4 ± 5.89 μg/mL), and Caco-2 colon cancer cells (IC50 = 167.39 ± 5.01 μg/mL). These findings highlight C.decidua root bark as a promising source of antioxidant and selectively cytotoxic phytochemicals with minimal toxicity toward normal cells, supporting its potential for further investigation as a natural anticancer agent. ©2027 National Information and Documentation Center (NIDOC)
Keywords
Anticancer; antioxidants; Capparis decidua; UPLC ESI/MS/MS metabolomic profiling
Citation Information
Scopus Citations: 0
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