Comparative Phytochemical Screening, Quantification, and Multi- Biological Activities of Cinnamomum cassia, Zingiber officinale, and Pimpinella anisum Extracts and Their β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes
Amina Aboura, Assia Keniche, Mohammed Hamadouche, Mohammed El Amine DibIntroduction:
Cinnamomum cassia, Zingiber officinale, and Pimpinella anisum are medicinal spices with antioxidant, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective activities, but are limited by poor solubility and stability. This study compared the phytochemical profiles and bioactivities of their ethanolic extracts and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) inclusion complexes.
Methods:
Ethanolic extracts were prepared by maceration with ethanol/water. Total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents were quantified. β-CD complexes were prepared at a 1:1 mass ratio. Antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH and ABTS assays. Antidiabetic activity was evaluated through α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition. Neuroprotective activity was measured via AChE and BChE inhibition.
Results:
C. cassia exhibited the highest TPC (78.5 ± 2.3 mg GAE/g) and TFC (41.2 ± 1.5 mg RE/g), along with the strongest antioxidant activity, showing DPPH and ABTS IC50 values of 22.48 and 66.16 μg/mL, respectively. Z. officinale demonstrated the most potent α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 167.88 μg/mL), whereas C. cassia was the most effective α-amylase inhibitor (IC50 = 297.02 μg/mL). Cholinesterase inhibitory activities ranged from 75.68–105.00 μg/mL for AChE and 90.62–163.28 μg/mL for BChE. β-CD complexes retained biological activities comparable to those of the free extracts, with only slight reductions in efficacy.
Discussion:
Activity differences correlate with phenolic content. β-CD complexation preserved bioactivity, suggesting partial encapsulation without major efficacy loss. Literature indicates that β- CD should improve solubility and stability, but this was not tested here, which is a limitation.
Conclusion:
C. cassia showed the best overall activity, while Z. officinale exhibited the strongest antidiabetic effect. β-CD complexation preserved most of the extracts' bioactivity, supporting its pharmaceutical potential.