Chemical Profiling and Pharmaceutical and Biological Activities of Methanolic Extract of Citrullus colocynthis L. Seeds Collected from the Arid Zone of Qassim, Saudi Arabia against Aphis craccivora

Emad M. Abdallah, Ahmed M. H. Ali, Hanaa Fadl Hashem, Adil A. Mujawah, Eman R. Elsharkawy

Abstract


Background: Citrullus colocynthis L. (C. colocynthis) is a medicinal plant with a long history of traditional usage in Saudi Arabia, particularly for the treatment of digestive issues such as indigestion and stomach pain.

Methods: C. colocynthis seeds were examined using qualitative and quantitative phytochemical methods. Antioxidant testing was conducted using DPPH assay and the reducing power test. Antibacterial properties were evaluated using the well-diffusion test, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test, and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) test. The effectiveness of the extract against Aphis craccivora (A. craccivora) was assessed using a leaf-dip bioassay, measuring generation time (GT), net reproduction rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), doubling time (DT), and finite rate of growth (λ).

Results: The methanolic extract of C. colocynthis seeds included diverse bioactive compounds, a good quantity of phenolic content (60.45 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid content (46.66 mg/g). The antibacterial tests showed that the extract was effective only against Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis. The extract recorded inhibition zones of 14.5 ± 0.7 mm and 10.5 ± 0.5 mm for Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus showed the greatest sensitivity, with MIC of 6.25 mg/mL and MBC of 25.0 mg/mL. The extract was found to have a fatal concentration (LC50) of 9.02% and a lethal concentration (LC95) of 20.50% against A. craccivora aphid.

Conclusions: The current vitro study on C. colocynthis reported that the seeds are effective as antioxidants, antibacterial agents (only against Gram-positive bacteria), and aphicidal agents against aphids. More investigations are recommended to examine the possible toxicity and biochemical interactions in vivo.

Keywords: Plants; Biological activity; In vitro study; Citrullus colocynthis; Aphis craccivora; Aphicidal 


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.62940/als.v11i4.3135

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