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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

This study on Foeniculum vulgare Mill., derived from seeds collected in Meknes (Morocco), evaluates in vitro and in silico the therapeutic potential of its extracts and essential oil through a comprehensive analysis of its phytochemical composition, as well as its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Aqueous extracts (E0), hydroethanolic extract (E1) obtained via Soxhlet, decoction (E2), and essential oil (EO) obtained through hydrodistillation were analyzed using HPLC/UV-ESI-MS and GC-MS, revealing a richness in phenolic and terpenic compounds. The quantification of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins in aqueous and organic extracts was performed using spectrophotometric methods. Antioxidant activity was assessed through three methods: DPPH, FRAP, and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC). The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and decoction was evaluated by microdilution in microplate assays. The aqueux extract was dominated by butyl ferulate (14.33%), while hydroethanolic extract contained chlorogenic acid (14.79%) and quercetin-3-glucuronide (13%). The extract (E2) was characterized by dihydrocaffeic acid (11.25%) and 3-O-caffeoylshikimic acid (11.08%), whereas the EO was primarily composed of fenchone (24.72%), trans-anethole (22.22%), and limonene (20.48%). Antioxidant assays (DPPH/FRAP/TAC) demonstrated decreasing efficacy as follows: EO exhibited the highest efficiency (IC50 = 51.45 μg/mL), followed by E1 (93.71 μg/mL), E0 (212.86 μg/mL), and E2 (397.41 μg/mL), confirming a correlation between phenolic composition and antioxidant activity. Furthermore, antimicrobial tests highlighted a pronounced fungicidal effect against Candida albicans (MIC = 3.13 mg/mL) and Aspergillus niger (6.25 mg/mL), contrasting with a more moderate inhibition of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Molecular docking simulations identified stable interactions between chlorogenic acid, quercetin-3-glucuronide, and microbial proteases, suggesting a synergistic inhibitory mechanism. This research validates the potential of F. vulgare as a source of bioactive molecules with promising applications in phytotherapy for managing oxidative stress and fungal infections, while emphasizing the need for clinical studies to confirm these effects in vivo.

Details

Title
Unveiling the Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Potentials of Foeniculum vulgare Mill: A Combined In Vitro and In Silico Approach
Author
Moumen, Bouchra El 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Bouzoubaa Amal 1 ; Aziz, Drioiche 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Eddahmouny Mohamed 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Al Kamaly Omkulthom 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Shahat, Abdelaaty Abdelaziz 4 ; Touijer Hanane 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Hadi, Nadia 1 ; Kharchouf Samira 1 ; Cherrat Ali 1 ; Fadili Kamal 1 ; El Ouadni Hajar 5   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Bari Amina 6 ; Zair Touriya 1 

 Research Team of Chemistry of Bioactive Molecules and the Environment, Laboratory of Innovative Materials and Biotechnology of Natural Resources, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismaïl University, B.P. 11201 Zitoune, Meknes 50070, Morocco; [email protected] (B.E.M.); [email protected] (A.B.); [email protected] (M.E.); [email protected] (H.T.); [email protected] (N.H.); [email protected] (S.K.); [email protected] (A.C.); [email protected] (K.F.) 
 Research Team of Chemistry of Bioactive Molecules and the Environment, Laboratory of Innovative Materials and Biotechnology of Natural Resources, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismaïl University, B.P. 11201 Zitoune, Meknes 50070, Morocco; [email protected] (B.E.M.); [email protected] (A.B.); [email protected] (M.E.); [email protected] (H.T.); [email protected] (N.H.); [email protected] (S.K.); [email protected] (A.C.); [email protected] (K.F.), Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques of Fez, Regional Health Directorate Fez-Meknes, EL Ghassani Hospital, Fez 30000, Morocco 
 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia; [email protected] 
 Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; [email protected] 
 Pharmacodynamics Research Team ERP, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed V in Rabat, Rabat B.P. 6203, Morocco; [email protected] 
 Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment Agrifood and Health, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, BP 1796 Atlas, Fez 30000, Morocco; [email protected] 
First page
4499
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
ISSN
16616596
e-ISSN
14220067
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3211986640
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.