EC Pharmacology and Toxicology

Introduction: Phytochemicals are related to the synthesis of crucial drugs for treatments. The current study aimed to evaluate phytochemistry, biopotential activities of methanolic extract of Litsea glutinosa, and in-silico molecular docking studies.

Method: The phytochemical analysis was estimated by total flavonoid and total phenolic content, and GC-MS test. Multiple biological activities were assessed such as antioxidant activity by DPPH and superoxide scavenging test, anxiolytic activity by plus maze and hole-board test, and antidepressant activity by and forced swimming and tail suspension test. In-silico binding interaction of phytoconstituents with their targets was virtually screened using PyRx. Drug-likeness properties were assessed by SwissADME server.

Results: Using GC and MS, eight phytochemical compounds were identified. The extract contained significant total flavonoid and phenolic content (41.996 ± 1.754 mg of QE/g, 13.264 ± 2.451 mg of GAE/g, respectively) that confirms its anti-oxidant activity (DPPH scavenging 59.12 ± 1.78% and superoxide scavenging activity 55.62 ± 1.21%). In the anxiolytic test, with the increasing dose of the plant extract, time spent in open arms, number of head dipping, and latency of first head dipping were increased whereas in antidepressant tests, with the increasing dose of the plant extract, immobile time decreased compared to the control. The computational studies confirmed several bioactive lead compounds showed strong binding abilities with the receptors of anxiolytic and antidepressant activities and revealed the Drug-likeness properties of Litsea glutinosa.

Conclusion: Our results yield that L. glutinosa extract has antioxidant activity and better neuropharmacological activity including anxiolytic and antidepressant activity.

 Keywords: Litsea glutinosa; Photochemistry; Antioxidant; GC-MS; Anxiolytic; Antidepressant; Neuropharmacological Activity; Molecular Docking

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