Evaluation of polyphenolic content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, and toxicity study of <i>Ferula communis</i> L. fruits

Abstract

Many species of the genus Ferula, including Ferula communis are used medicinally to treat various diseases. Consumption of Ferula communis has been reported to have toxic effect. The study aims to evaluate the polyphenolic content, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and toxicological activities of the methanol and aqueous extracts of the edible fruit (MEFE and AEFE) and the fruit at the advanced stage of flowering (AEFAF and MEFAF) of Ferula communis. The polyphenolic (total phenolic and flavonoid) contents were evaluated using standard procedures. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) assays. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against selected bacteria and fungal organisms using the disk diffusion method. Acute and sub-acute toxicity of the hydroethanol extract of the edible fruit (HEFE) was evaluated in mice according to standard procedures. The results indicate that the AEFE has higher phenolic and flavonoid content than the MEFE. Whereas, the MEFAF showed a very high amount of phenols and flavonoids compared to AEFAF. AEFAF displayed a higher antioxidant activity in the DPPH and FRAP assays, whereas MEFE showed higher antioxidant activity in the ABTS assay. AEEF and MEEF showed remarkable antibacterial action. Acute and sub-acute oral administration of HEFE did not cause any toxic effect in mice. On the basis of these findings, Ferula communis fruit could serve as a potential antioxidant against oxidative stress, and a potential antibacterial agent against pathogenic bacterial infection.