Phytochemical Investigation and Biological Activities of Ruta chalepensis Methanolic Extract: Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Anticollagenase, and Antielastase Properties

Abstract

Ruta chalepensis has long been recognized in traditional medicine for its diverse pharmacological properties. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the phytochemical composition and evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticollagenase, and antielastase activities of the methanolic extract derived from R. chalepensis. The extract was subjected to phytochemical screening using LC-MS analysis. For evaluation of the antioxidant activity, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays were used. The anti-inflammatory properties of the extract were investigated using a protein denaturation bioassay. Finally, fluorometric screening kits assessed the anticollagenase and antielastase activities. The phytochemical screening identified 33 compounds, the dominant being 3,3′,4,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone (9.4%), and myricetin (8.9%). The extract showed antioxidant activity, with IC₅₀ values of 30.1 μg/mL for the DPPH assay and 25.4 μg/mL for the ABTS assay. Moreover, the extract displayed significant inhibition of protein denaturation across a range of concentrations. Additionally, the methanolic extract exhibited a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on collagenase and elastase activities. The highest concentration tested, 5%, achieved 41.7% for collagenase inhibition and 62.4% for elastase inhibition. In summary, the methanolic extract of R. chalepensis showcases promising antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities, hinting at its potential for a wide array of therapeutic applications.