article · Frontiers in Nutrition
Centaurea pungens Pomel, an underexplored plant species from the Sahara, contains diverse bioactive compounds with potential nutraceutical applications. Chemical profiling of its ethanolic extract identified flavonoids and phenolic acids, with major constituents including curcumin, beta-carotene, and myricetin derivatives. Laboratory evaluations revealed notable antioxidant capabilities, demonstrating effective radical scavenging and metal chelation alongside antimicrobial activity relevant to food preservation. In addition, the extract showed significant in vitro inhibition of digestive alpha-amylase, an enzyme involved in carbohydrate breakdown. Computational molecular docking and dynamics simulations indicated that myricetin 3-arabinoside binds stably to the catalytic pocket of human pancreatic alpha-amylase, suggesting a possible mechanism for enzyme inhibition. Although these attributes position the plant as a candidate for dietary use, practical deployment requires further evaluations concerning bioavailability, safety, and in vivo efficacy.
Oxidative stress and metabolic disorders represent major global health concerns. Identifying plant-derived substances that neutralise harmful free radicals and inhibit carbohydrate-digesting enzymes offers pathways to manage these conditions through nutrition. This work highlights an understudied desert flora as a potential source of functional ingredients for metabolic health, while also pointing to natural options for extending food shelf life and safety.
This research is at an early laboratory stage, relying on chemical profiling, cell-free assays, and computer simulations. The findings could eventually enable nutraceutical ingredients, dietary supplements for metabolic health, or natural food preservatives. Target users would be functional food manufacturers and supplement developers. Commercialisation remains distant, as the extract requires rigorous quantitative analysis, bioavailability studies, safety profiling, and in vivo animal and clinical validation before any market deployment.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Introduction Antioxidant-rich plant-derived compounds are increasingly investigated for their role in preventing oxidative stress and managing metabolic disorders. Centaurea pungens Pomel, an underexplored Saharan species, represents a potential source of dietary bioactive compounds with functional properties. Methods This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition and nutraceutical potential of C. pungens through integrated chemical, biological, and in silico approaches. Results The ethanolic extract was characterized using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS, revealing a diverse phytochemical profile comprising flavonoids and phenolic acids, with major constituents including curcumin, beta-carotene, and myricetin derivatives. The extract exhibited notable antioxidant activity, with 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging (IC50 = 0.0706 ± 0.006 mg/mL) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging (IC50 = 0.1789 ± 0.083 mg/mL), alongside moderate metal-chelating capacity. The extract exhibited significant in vitro alpha-amylase inhibitory activity. Molecular docking and 300 ns molecular dynamics simulations further suggested that myricetin 3-arabinoside may contribute to the observed inhibitory effect through stable interactions with the catalytic pocket of human pancreatic alpha-amylase. In addition, the extract showed antimicrobial activity, indicating its potential for applications related to food safety and preservation. Discussion However, the predominant nutritional relevance lies in its high polyphenol content and associated antioxidant and enzyme-inhibitory properties. Overall, these findings suggested that C. pungens represents a promising source of bioactive phytochemicals deserving further nutritional investigation. Further quantitative phytochemical analysis, together with bioavailability, safety, and in vivo efficacy studies, is warranted before practical dietary applications can be recommended.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1866954
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
