Evaluation of the biological effects of the plant: Astragalus Cruciatus link

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the different biological effects of Astragalus, namely Astragalus cruciatus took from El Oued region. This plant, belonging to Fabaceae Family were subjected to phytochemical screening and testing for antioxidant activity anti￾inflammatory activity, and antimicrobial activity assays against 4 bacteria's strains (two Gram negative and two Gram positive bacteria, and evaluate antifungal effect of the extract against Candida, and finally anti-diabetics activity and toxicity assay, The studied extracts were tested for the presence of tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, Alkaloids, and reduced sugar. Significantly higher polyphenols, followed by tanninsand flavonoids were found in the extract in the order (259 ±6.041µg EGA /mg Ex), (40.554±0.009 µg ECT/mg Ex), and (7.83±1,131 µg EQC/mg Ex). The results of hole antioxidants assays, Frap assay, and TAC led to confirm that our extract have antioxidants activity. The value in Frap assay was estimated at (EC50=148.5 ± 0.601 µg/mL) and TAC assay was estimated at (183 ± 0.529 µg/mL). It's also showed an Anti-inflammatory activity by using fresh egg whites as a protein source (30.2 ± 0.215 µg/mL)which mean that activity ishigh according to salicylic acid that we used as standard in this study. As for bacterial activity, it has been proven that Astragalus cruciatus was only active against Escherichia coli, a Gram negative bacteria, and Staphylococcus aureus a gram positive bacteria, In addition, Astragalus cruciatus extract possesses antidiabetic properties as implied by the in vitro and ex vivo experiments .Further, its hypoglycemic effect is mediated by increasing glucose adsorption, decreasing glucose diffusion rate, where the highest absorption rate reached 12.37% at 100mg/ml. Finally, based on the toxicity test, we found that the Astragalus cruciatus plant is a safe and non-toxic plant.