Unraveling the metabolome composition and its implication for Salvadora persica L. use as dental brush via a multiplex approach of NMR and LC-MS metabolomics

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Mohamed A Farag - , Cairo University, American University in Cairo (Author)
  • Zeinab T Shakour - , National Organization for Drug Control and Research (Author)
  • Tilo Lübken - , Chair of Organic Chemistry I (Author)
  • Andrej Frolov - , Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, St. Petersburg State University (Author)
  • Ludger A Wessjohann - , Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (Author)
  • Engy Mahrous - , Cairo University (Author)

Abstract

Salvadora persica L. (toothbrush tree, Miswak) is well recognized in most Middle Eastern and African countries for its potential role in dental care, albeit the underlying mechanism for its effectiveness is still not fully understood. A comparative MS and NMR metabolomics approach was employed to investigate the major primary and secondary metabolites composition of S. persica in context of its organ type viz., root or stem to rationalize for its use as a tooth brush. NMR metabolomics revealed its enrichment in nitrogenous compounds including proline-betaines i.e., 4-hydroxy-stachydrine and stachydrine reported for the first time in S. persica. LC/MS metabolomics identified flavonoids (8), benzylurea derivatives (5), butanediamides (3), phenolic acids (8) and 5 sulfur compounds, with 21 constituents reported for the first time in S. persica. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) of either NMR or LC/MS dataset clearly separated stem from root specimens based on nitrogenous compounds abundance in roots and is justifying for its preference as toothbrush versus stems. The presence of betaines at high levels in S. persica (9-12 μg/mg dry weight) offers novel insights into its functioning as an osmoprotectant that maintains the hydration of oral mucosa. Additionally, the previously described anti-inflammatory activity of stachydrine along with the antimicrobial effects of sulfonated flavonoids, benzylisothiocynate and ellagic acid derivatives are likely contributors to S. persica oral hygiene health benefits. Among root samples, variation in sugars and organic acids levels were the main discriminatory criterion. This study provides the first standardization of S. persica extract using qNMR for further inclusion in nutraceuticals.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number113727
Journal Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis : JPBA
Volume193
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jan 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85096002140
ORCID /0000-0003-3383-9518/work/161409301

Keywords

Keywords

  • Africa, Chromatography, Liquid, Metabolome, Metabolomics, Plant Extracts, Salvadoraceae, Tandem Mass Spectrometry