Title : Nutraceutical potential of underutilized Trianthema portulacastrum L. (Aizoaceae)
Abstract:
This study aimed at characterizing and quantifying index anticancer, anti-HIV and antioxidant metabolites in T. portulacastrum using the Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (UHP-LCMS) while minerals and proximate nutrients of the plant were assessed following the Association of Organic and Analytical Chemists (AOAC) methods. The cytotoxicity of the tested samples was monitored on the xCELLigence Real Time Cell Analyser as a function of cell index at a specific time post dose using the concentration range of 0.16 - 2.5%. Ethanolic extracts of T. portulacastrum induced the inhibition of at least 50% of the HIV-1 viral load at considerably low IC50 values of 1.757 mg/mL which is comparable to the AZT standard. Based on the responses observed 48 hours post exposure, the tested extracts showed high levels of cytotoxicity as determined by the xCELLigence. These biological activities may be attributed to different anticancer, anti-HIV and antioxidant metabolites such as epigallocatechin, glucaric acids, byakangelicin, xanthotoxin, apaensin, acetoxy-6-gingerol among other compounds of significant therapeutic benefits that were quantified with UHP-LCMS. The protein composition ranged between 8.63-22.69%; fat (1.84-4.33%); moisture (7.89 - 9.04%); fibre (23.84-49.98%); and carbohydrate content (38.54-70.14%). Mineral contents of tested T. portulacastrum varied considerably in different parts of the plant. Nitrogen mineral ranged between 13.8-36.3 mg/g; sodium (2.0-14.0 mg/g); potassium (14.0-82.0 mg/g); magnesium (2.8-7.1 mg/g); calcium (9.1-24.7 mg/g); phosphorus (1.3-3.6 mg/g); iron (193.5-984.0 ppm); zinc (42.5-96.0 ppm); manganese (28.5-167.5 ppm); and copper (2.0-8.5 ppm). These mineral values are comparable or higher than values reported for common vegetables, suggesting that T. portulacastrum is a nutrient-dense vegetable that could provide alternative sources of anticancer and antiviral nutrients to HIV-infected individuals. These findings suggest that T. portulacastrum contains diverse nutrients, anticancer and anti-HIV metabolites with extended therapeutic utility that could provide alternative sources of anticancer and antiviral nutrients to HIV-infected individuals.
