Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant Activity, and In Vitro Cytotoxic Potential of Mangrove Avicennia marina

Abstract

Background:Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh., a widely distributed mangrove species, is known for its diverse secondary metabolites with potential pharmacological applications. Despite its dominance in the Arabian Gulf, where A. marina may have adapted to extreme environmental conditions with a distinct set of bioactive molecules, research in this region remains limited. Methods: This study investigates the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and in vitro cytotoxicity of extracts from different plant parts, including roots, leaves, propagules, pericarps, and cotyledons, collected in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Extracts were analyzed using ultra-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and ABTS assays, while cytotoxicity was evaluated against human cancer and normal cell lines. Results: Analysis revealed 49 compounds, including iridoid glycosides, hydroxycinnamic acids, phenylethanoid glycosides, flavonoid glycosides, and triterpene saponins, several reported for the first time in A. marina and mangroves. The pericarp and root extracts exhibited the highest scavenging activity (DPPH: 187.14 ± 2.87 and 128.25 ± 1.12; ABTS: 217.16 ± 2.67 and 147.21 ± 2.42 μmol TE/g, respectively), correlating with phenylethanoid content. The root extract also displayed the highest cytotoxicity, with IC₅₀ values of 58.46, 81.98, and 108.10 μg/mL against MDA-MB-231, SW480, and E705, respectively. In silico analysis identified triterpene saponins as potential contributors. Conclusions: These findings highlight the root extract of A. marina as a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential antioxidant and anticancer applications, supporting further exploration for novel therapeutic candidates.

Keywords: Avicennia marina; UPLC-HRMS; antioxidant activity; bioactive compounds; cytotoxicity; mangroves; natural products; phytochemical analysis; triterpene saponins.

Figure 1

DPPH (a) and ABTS (b) radical scavenging activity of A. marina extracts expressed as μmol Trolox equivalents per gram of sample matrix (μmol TE/g). The bars represent the mean ± standard deviation (SD) from n = 3 independent experiments. Different lowercase letters indicate statistically significant differences between extracts (p < 0.05).

Figure 2

Cell viability (%) of SW480 (a) and E705 (b) human colorectal cancer cell lines treated with A. marina extracts (20–540 μg/mL) for 48 h. Bars represent mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) from n = 3 independent experiments. Different lowercase letters indicate statistically significant differences between extracts (p < 0.05) and were assigned independently for each concentration.

Figure 3

Cell viability (%) of MDA-MB-231 (a), U-87 (b), and HeLa (c) human cancer cell lines treated with A. marina extracts (20–540 μg/mL) for 48 h. Bars represent mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) from n = 3 independent experiments. Different lowercase letters indicate statistically significant differences between extracts (p < 0.05) and were assigned independently for each concentration.

Figure 4

Cell viability (%) of CCD 841 (a) and MRC-5 (b) healthy human cell lines treated with A. marina extracts (20–540 μg/mL) for 48 h. Bars represent mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) from n = 3 independent experiments. Different lowercase letters indicate statistically significant differences between extracts (p < 0.05) and were assigned independently for each concentration.

Figure 5

Cell viability (%) of the cancer cell lines treated with A. marina root extract (180 and 540 μg/mL) for 48 h. Bars represent mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) from n = 3 independent experiments. Different lowercase letters indicate statistically significant differences between extracts (p < 0.05) and were assigned independently for each concentration.