Phytochemical Profile and Bioactivities of Elaeagnus angustifolia Seeds: Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and In Silico Evaluation
El‐assri Youssef, El‐assri El‐Mehdi, Sofia Zazouli, Boukour Sara, Oussama Khibech, Moneerah J. Alqahtani, Jawaher H. Alqahtani, Joe Miantezila Basilua, Eloutassi Noureddine, Laglaoui Amin, Mohamed Bouhrim, Lahkimi AmalABSTRACT
The present study examined the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, antibacterial, and in silico properties of Elaeagnus angustifolia seed extracts. Methanol and ethanol extracts exhibited the highest yields (7.22% and 4.63%), reflecting the predominance of polar constituents. HPLC‐PDA identified forty‐three compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, alkaloids, and triterpenoids, several of which were reported in seeds for the first time. Both extracts showed antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria (MICs 3.5–30 mg/mL) and inhibited biofilm formation in Escherichia coli , Salmonella typhimurium , and Bacillus subtilis . Antioxidant assays showed strong radical‐scavenging activity (IC 50 = 0.184–0.211 mg/mL) and high total antioxidant capacity (154.86 mg AAE/g for methanol; 124.81 mg AAE/g for ethanol). In silico analysis showed that ethanolic constituents exhibited higher lipophilicity and membrane permeability, whereas methanolic compounds were more polar, water‐soluble, and safer. Molecular docking revealed stronger and more consistent binding interactions of ethanolic compounds toward bacterial targets, while caffeic acid showed the most promising profile among methanolic compounds. ProTox‐III analysis indicated compound‐dependent differences in predicted acute oral toxicity. These predictions are preliminary and require experimental toxicological validation. This study provides comprehensive chemical and in silico characterization of Elaeagnus angustifolia seed extracts, supporting future antibacterial and antioxidant applications and guiding further experimental investigations.