Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) is a valuable medicinal plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. Plant seeds are mostly used in Asian, African, and Mediterranean countries as major ingredients of daily diets and in domains such as cosmetics, fragrances, beverages, nutrition, medicine and industry. The major pharmacological attributes of fenugreek are hypotensive, antioxidant, antiviral, anticarcinogenic, galactagogue, laxative, febrifuge, carminative, anticholesterolemic, antimicrobial, etc.
1. Introduction
Inflammation is the protective response of the body to noxious stimuli, microbes, and chemicals or irritants
[1]. It causes change in vascular permeability, blood flow alteration and increased migration of leucocytes to the inflammatory area, and results in pain, heat, redness, swelling and functional failure of the affected tissue
[2]. Several pathological processes, including arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and other severe inflammatory conditions, are usually characterized by pain and inflammation
[3]. Although several antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory medicines are available, these drugs are arguably inaccessible, costly, less effective, and have multiple side effects
[4]. Non-conventional medicines occupy a significant place in healthcare systems, as more than 80% of people worldwide depend on them for their daily healthcare requirements, particularly in Asia and Africa
[5].
Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) is a valuable medicinal plant belonging to the Fabaceae family
[6]. Plant seeds are mostly used in Asian, African, and Mediterranean countries as major ingredients of daily diets and in domains such as cosmetics, fragrances, beverages, nutrition, medicine and industry
[7]. The major pharmacological attributes of fenugreek are hypotensive, antioxidant, antiviral, anticarcinogenic, galactagogue, laxative, febrifuge, carminative, anticholesterolemic, antimicrobial, etc.
[8,9][8][9]. Overproduction of nitrogen and reactive oxygen species, as well as insufficient quenching/stabilization in the body, causes oxidative stress, which destroys important biomolecules (nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins)
[10]. Several human diseases, including cardiac disorders, diabetes, cancer, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases, are exacerbated or triggered by oxidative damage to these biological molecules
[11]. Plant-derived natural products, particularly polyphenolics, and related antioxidant phytochemicals have a diverse range of bioactivities, including anti-inflammation, owing to their ability to quench and alleviate oxidative stress in biological systems, thus restoring health
[12]. As a result, the latest research focus has switched towards plant-based natural products as one of the most encouraging sources of curative agents of inflammation and pain
[13].
Plants are an abundant source of bioactive compounds, including phenolics, phenolic acids, simple phenolics, flavonoids, derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acid, and anthocyanins
[14]. Based upon their physiological properties, including scavenging of free radicals, as well as antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic effects, phenolic compounds of different classes continue to attract much scientific attention
[15]. Previously, anti-inflammatory properties of
T. foenum-graecum have been reported against the carrageenan-induced paw edema model of inflammation, but there is no report available against carrageenan-induced air pouch inflammation and carrageenan-induced peritonitis. The antioxidant effects of polyphenolics are mainly due to their redox potential, serving as hydrogen donors, potent reducing agents, metal chelators, along with singlet oxygen quenchers
[16,17,18][16][17][18]. Several phenolics and flavonoids have been demonstrated to have significant effects on the functioning of the immune system, including inflammatory processes
[19]. Quercetin, luteolin, hesperidin, and apigenin are flavonoids containing potential anti-inflammatory activities
[20].
2. Screening of Phytochemicals through HPLC-DAD
T. foenum extract was characterized for its bioactive constituents through HPLC-DAD using operating conditions previously discussed in the materials and method section (
Figure 1). During the analysis, 13 compounds were identified in plant extract that were mostly phenolic acids and flavones. Peak 1 was identified as gallic acid having a response intensity of 0.17 AU (absorption unit), provided in
Figure 1. When this peak was extracted for the PDA (photodiode array detector) spectrum, it showed lambda maximum (λ
max nm) at 271.2 and 214.6 nm, which corresponds to a standard spectrum as well as the NIST library. The purity of the peak was also assured through the 3D spectrum as well as measuring the purity angle and purity threshold of the peak, which are given in
Figure 2 as well as
Table 1. The concentration of gallic acid was measured by comparing the area under the peak in comparison to the area under the peak of standard and determined 117.6 ± 1.5 mg/100 g DW. The other peaks that appeared in the chromatogram of the sample were investigated for their identification and quantification by comparison with the standards run as well as the NIST library, and the results are summarized in
Table 1. The most abundant antioxidant and antimicrobial compound found was p-coumaric acid with a concentration of 256.7 ± 6.8 g/100 g of DE followed by ferulic acid 168.4 ± 1.8 g/100 g of DE. The results were in agreement with previous reports by
[47[21][22],
48], who reported the abundance of p-coumaric acid in plant extracts. The identification of phytochemicals indicates that antioxidant and other biological properties of extract could be due to the presence of these bioactive compounds. Almost all the phenolic acids identified have a hydroxyl group that could be responsible for the scavenging potential of these compounds
[49][23]. Peaks of the chromatogram were identified through comparison with standards as well as the match index of the UV-visible spectrum of each peak using the NIST library. The identified compounds were presented in order of their elution on the reverse phase column.
Figure 1. (A) Chromatogram of high-pressure liquid chromatography equipped with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) at 280 nm and (B) extracted spectrum (200–400 nm) of each peak.
Figure 2.
Purity plots of representative peaks, (
A
) gallic acid, and (
B
) trihydroxybenzoic acid.
Table 1.
High-pressure liquid chromatography equipped with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) summary results of each peak.
Peak No. |
Compound Name |
Retention Time |
ʎmax (nm) |
Concentration mg/100 g DW |
1 |
Gallic acid (GA) |
4.4 |
271.2, 214.6 |
117.6 ± 1.5 |
2 |
Trihydroxybenzoic (TBHA) acid |
7.3 |
260.5, 221.4 |
112.6 ± 5.6 |
3 |
Protochateuic acid (PTA) |
13.4 |
291.4, 260.5, 214.4 |
14 |
p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) |
28.1 |
328.5, 234.4 |
113.7 ± 3.8 |
3. UHPLC-Q-TOF Chromatogram of T. foenum
HPLC analysis of plant extract led to the identification and quantification of 13 phenolics, and samples were further characterized through LC-MS/MS (Q-TOF) profile (a detailed description is provided in
Table 2,
Figure 3). A total ion current (TIC)-based chromatogram of plant extract of
T. foenum is presented in
Figure 2, and the precursor ion of each peak was further processed for fragmentation pattern (MS/MS) and compared with the NIST library as well as literature reported for the identification of phytochemicals present in the sample. The results are summarized in
Table 2, which described each component with retention time in order of their elution order and fragmentation pattern. Although numerous peaks were recorded in the chromatogram,
wresearche
rs reported almost 18 compounds, which were identified through the NIST library or literature. MS profiling of peak 1 (RT 2.34 min) produced a parent ion peak at [M
− H]+
m/
z 441.0840 Da and daughter ions 251.0365, 233.0297 and 124.9848 Da, which corresponds to catechin gallate, and its fragmentation pattern revealed it would be catechin 3-O-gallate. MS spectra are provided in
Supplementary Materials Figure S1 (supplementary could be found in https://www.mdpi.
com/2076-3921/11/2/364#supplementary). The other peaks appeared in chromatogram were also processed for MS1 as well as MS2 at both positive and negative ion mode, and the results were compared with literature and are described in
Table 2. Almost 18 compounds were confirmed through literature and their detailed description is provided in
Supplementary Materials Figures S1–S17.
Figure 3.
UHPLC-Q-TOF chromatogram of
T. foenum
.
Table 2. Ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography equipped with electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight mass detector (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS) characterization of phytochemicals of TT. foenum. foenum.
Serial# |
Compound Detected |
Retention Time (min) |
MS |
M − H (Predicted) |
M − H (Found) |
MS2 |
Formula |
Reference |
1 |
Catechin 3-O-gallate |
2.34 |
442.09 |
441.0827 |
441.0840 |
251.0365, 233.0297, 124.9848 |
C22H18O10 |
[49,50][23][24] |
Total phenolic contents (GAE mg/g) |
454.93 ± 3.57 |
- |
2 |
4-O-methylepigallocatechin |
11.20 |
320.0896 |
321.1569 |
321.1468 |
303.1364, 241.1007 |
C16H16O7 |
[50,51,52][24][25][26] |
103.8 ± 2.4 |
Total flavonoid contents (CE µg/g) |
135.04 ± 2.12 |
- |
3 |
Sativanone |
12.84 |
300.1398 |
299.1425 |
299.1474 |
283.1462, 223.0883, 179.0974 |
C17H16O5 |
Total antioxidant capacity (AAE mg/g) | [ | 50 |
162.51 ± 3.81 | , | 52 | ] | [ | 24][26] |
- |
4 |
Ferulic acid (FA) |
14.1 |
4 |
Gallic acid | 323.7, 236.8 |
168.4 ± 1.8 |
13.36 |
170.12 |
169.1345 |
169.1342 |
125.4622 |
C | 7 | H6O5 |
DPPH inhibition assay (IC50) (µg/mL) | [ | 50 | , | 52 | ] |
24.7 ± 2.70 a | [ | 24 |
25.05 ± 1.45 a][26] |
5 |
Protocatechualdehyde (PTCA) |
15.0 |
308.2, 279.5, 229.7 |
98.4 ± 2.3 |
5 |
Kampferol |
18.34 |
286.23 |
285.1487 |
285.1425 |
245.1357 189.1109 |
C15H10O6 |
[50,53][24][27] |
6 |
6 | p-coumaric acid (PCA) |
18.4 |
309.4, 229.7 |
256.7 ± 6.8 |
Methylviolanone |
18.57 |
330.1103 |
329.1103 |
329.1539 |
311.1424, 279.1167 |
C | 18H18O6 |
[20,50][20][24] |
7 |
Vanillic acid (VN) |
19.7 |
7 |
homovanilic acid-hexoside |
19.23279.5, 246.4 |
57.9 ± 2.4 |
344.138 |
343.1135 |
343.1762 |
279.1162, 255.1146, 181.0796, 163.0396 |
C | 15 | H | 20O9 |
[50,51][24][25] |
8 |
Protocatechualdehyde (PhA) |
22.2 |
280.6, 224.3 |
8 | 116.8 ± 1.9 |
5-O-Feruloylquinic acid |
20.99 |
368.1568 |
367.1448 |
367.1648 |
337.1599, 293.1295, 191.0640 |
C | 17H20O9 |
[49,50,52][23][24][26] |
9 |
Vaniline (VNA) |
23.6 |
|
87.5 ± 2.4 |
9 |
Cyanidin |
25.17 |
288.2 |
287.2 |
287.1768 |
287.1768, 253.095, 167.1364, 149.1272 |
C15H11O6 |
[53,54][27][28] |
10 |
Apigenic acid (APG) |
26.9 |
294.6, 261.7, 219.8 |
10 |
Coumaroylquinic acid |
26.09 |
338.1002 | 117.7 ± 3.6 |
337.1927 |
337.1900 |
265.1338, |
| 173.1554 |
C | 16 | H18O8 |
[51,52,53][25][26][27] |
13 |
Syringic acid (peak 13) |
27.2 |
11 |
Quercetin |
27.15 | 310.5, 222.5 |
95.6 ± 11.3 |
302.236 |
301.1915 |
301.1950 |
295.1747 291.1551, 163.1428 |
C15H10O7 |
[20,52][20][26] |
12 |
Schisandrin C |
27.49 |
384.1573 |
385.1646 |
385.1393 |
339.1704, 137.0888, 123.0786 |
C22H24O6 |
[20,52][20][26] |
13 |
p-coumaric acid O-hexoside |
27.95 |
326.1455 |
325.1529 |
325.1552 |
295.1080, 165.0856, 123.0763 |
C15H18O8 |
[20,52][20][26] |
14 |
Hydroxytyrosol-4-o-glycoside |
29.29 |
316.2158 |
315.2085 |
315.2140 |
251.1190, 237.1404, 237.1042 177.1555 |
C14H20O8 |
[50,55][24][29] |
15 |
3-Methoxysinensetin |
31.42 | O | 8 |
[ | 52 |
ABTS cation inhibition (IC50) (µg/mL) |
15.8 ± 0.87 a |
402.2315 |
403.2388 |
403.2755 |
399.2602, | 383.2710, 199.0671 |
C21 | ,54][26][28] |
- |
H | 22 |
16 |
Pinoresinol |
31.74 |
358.1416 |
357.1343 |
357.2531 |
313.2297, |
C20H22O6 |
[52,54][26][28] |
17 |
Glycitin |
32.45 |
446.3213 |
447.3286 |
447.3361 |
403.3065, 368.4185 |
C22H22O10 |
[20,52][20][26] |
18 |
Dihydroferulic acid 4-O-glucuronide |
33.52 |
372.1156 |
371.1054 |
371.1674 |
291.1162, 266.9912, 73.0421 |
C6H20O10 |
[50,55][24][29] |
4. Determination of TPC, TFC and In Vitro Antioxidant Activities
The results of the in vitro antioxidant profiling of
T. foenum-graecum seed extract are presented in
Table 3. The results reveal that
T. foenum-graecum seed extract displayed excellent antioxidant potential with total phenolic contents of 454.93 ± 3.57 mg GAE/g, total flavonoid contents (TFC) of 135.04 ± 2.12 µg/CE and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of 162.51 ± 3.81 per gram of dry plant extract. The extract represented a concentration-dependent activity of DPPH inhibition and ABTS scavenging assay with an IC
50 value of 24.7 ± 2.70 and 15.8 ± 0.87 µg/mL, respectively, which is similar to standard.
Table 3.
In vitro antioxidant activities and total phenolic and flavonoid contents of
T. foenum-graecum
seed extract.
Antioxidant Assay |
T. foenum-graecum |
Ascorbic Acid |