J. Pharm. Pharmacogn. Res., vol. 14, no. 5, Article ID 2832, Sep-Oct 2026.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres_14.5.2832

Original Article

Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant capacity, and preliminary cytotoxicity of Diospyros dasyphylla Kurz leaf extract

[Perfil fitoquímico, capacidad antioxidante y citotoxicidad preliminar del extracto de hojas de Diospyros dasyphylla Kurz]

Chawalit Yongram¹, Sasipen Krutchangthong^2, Rumrada Meeboonya³, Thavatchai Kamoltham³, Ploenthip Puthongking⁴, Panupan Sripan^5

¹National Institute of Nuclear and Radiation Reference Standards Laboratory, Office of Atoms for Peace, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.

²Division of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, College of Allied Health Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Samut Songkhram, 75000, Thailand.

³Division of Cannabis Health Sciences, College of Allied Health Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Samut Songkhram, 75000, Thailand.

⁴Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.

⁵Division of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Burapha University, Chonburi, 20131, Thailand.

*E-mail: panupan.buu@gmail.com, sasipen.kr@ssru.ac.th

Abstract

Context: Natural products remain valuable sources of bioactive compounds. Diospyros dasyphylla Kurz is poorly characterized with respect to its phytochemical composition and biological activities.

Aims: To evaluate the antioxidant activity, preliminary MTT-based cytotoxicity, phytochemical profile, and predicted molecular interactions of D. dasyphylla leaf extract.

Methods: Leaves were extracted with 95% ethanol. Phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents were determined colorimetrically. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Preliminary cytotoxicity was assessed in MCF-7, HCT-116, and CCD-841 cells using the MTT assay. Major constituents were tentatively identified by GC–MS. Drug-likeness, pharmacokinetic properties, and docking interactions with CASP3, AKT-1, and BCL-2 were predicted in silico.

Results: The extract exhibited DPPH and ABTS IC₅₀ values of 171.36 ± 1.53 and 140.52 ± 0.32 µg/mL, respectively, and a FRAP value of 49.51 ± 1.71 mmol Fe²⁺ equivalents/100 g extract. MTT-based cytotoxic activity was observed against MCF-7 and HCT-116 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 39.70 ± 1.50 and 25.70 ± 1.50 µg/mL, respectively. Limited selectivity was observed relative to CCD-841 cells. GC–MS tentatively identified ten major constituents, with uvaol tentatively identified as the predominant compound. Docking predicted favorable interactions of triterpenoids with AKT-1 and BCL-2.

Conclusions: D. dasyphylla leaf extract contained triterpenoid-rich constituents and showed measurable antioxidant activity and preliminary MTT-based cytotoxic activity. This appears to be the first comprehensive report describing the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, preliminary MTT-based cytotoxicity, and molecular docking profile of this species. Complementary cell-death and pathway-validation assays are required.

Keywords: antioxidants; Ebenaceae; molecular docking; phytochemicals; triterpenes.

Resumen

Contexto: Los productos naturales son fuentes valiosas de compuestos bioactivos. Diospyros dasyphylla Kurz ha sido poco estudiada en cuanto a su composición fitoquímica y a sus actividades biológicas.

Objetivos: Evaluar la actividad antioxidante, la citotoxicidad preliminar mediante el ensayo de MTT, el perfil fitoquímico y las interacciones moleculares predichas del extracto de hojas de D. dasyphylla.

Métodos: Las hojas se extrajeron con etanol al 95%. Los compuestos fenólicos, flavonoides y taninos se determinaron colorimétricamente. La actividad antioxidante se evaluó mediante DPPH, ABTS y FRAP, y la citotoxicidad preliminar mediante MTT en células MCF-7, HCT-116 y CCD-841. Los principales constituyentes se identificaron de forma tentativa mediante GC–MS. Las propiedades farmacocinéticas y las interacciones con CASP3, AKT-1 y BCL-2 se predijeron in silico.

Resultados: El extracto presentó valores de IC₅₀ de 171.36 ± 1.53 y 140.52 ± 0.32 µg/mL para DPPH y ABTS, respectivamente, y un valor de FRAP de 49.51 ± 1.71 mmol Fe²⁺/100 g. La actividad citotóxica basada en MTT mostró valores de IC₅₀ de 39.70 ± 1.50 y 25.70 ± 1.50 µg/mL en MCF-7 y HCT-116, respectivamente, con selectividad limitada frente a CCD-841. GC–MS identificó tentativamente diez constituyentes principales, siendo el uvaol el predominante. El acoplamiento molecular predijo interacciones favorables entre los triterpenos y AKT-1 y BCL-2.

Conclusiones: El extracto de hojas de D. dasyphylla presentó constituyentes ricos en triterpenos, actividad antioxidante y citotoxicidad preliminar determinada mediante MTT. Este parece ser el primer informe integral sobre el perfil fitoquímico, antioxidante, citotóxico y molecular de esta especie. Se requieren ensayos complementarios para validar estos hallazgos.

Palabras Clave: acoplamiento molecular; antioxidantes; Ebenaceae; fitoquímicos; triterpenos.

https://jppres.com/jppres/pdf/vol14/jppres_14.5.2832.pdf

Citation Format: Yongram C, Krutchangthong S, Meeboonya R, Kamoltham T, Puthongking P, Sripan P (2026) Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant capacity, and preliminary cytotoxicity of Diospyros dasyphylla Kurz leaf extract. J Pharm Pharmacogn Res 14(5): 2832. https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres_14.5.2832

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2026