Exploring the Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic, and Anticancer Properties of Capsicum annuum L. (Samandağ Pepper): Biochemical and In Silico Insights

Abstract

Capsicum annuum L. species from the Samandağ district of Hatay/Turkey was used in our study. Phytochemical analysis of seed and fruit ethanol extracts of this plant was carried out by GC-MS method. Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) and Total Oxidant Status (TOS) levels were determined to calculate the Oxidative Stress Index to determine antioxidant activity. MIC method was used to evaluate antimicrobial properties against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Anticancer activity was determined by the XTT assay on breast (MCF-7), lung (A549) and brain (C6) cancer cells and healthy fibroblast (WI-38) cell lines. The effects of the extracts on acetylcholinesterase and α-amylase activities were investigated. It was found that C. annuum fruit extract had a lower OSI value than the seed extract. Fruit and seed extracts showed antimicrobial activity on microorganisms at MIC values of 200 µg/mL. Molecular docking studies were conducted to analyze the antibacterial properties of plant active ingredients. These studies are chemical components that are determined to be more abundant in the plant extract. Thus, it aimed to evaluate the effects of active compounds on various bacterial species. The results revealed the potential antibacterial properties of plants and provided important data that these ingredients can be used in future treatment methods. The anticancer activity in all cancer cell lines was very high in both seed and fruit extracts with a selectivity index (SI) well above SI ≥ 3. Furthermore, no deleterious effect on healthy fibroblast (WI-38) cells was observed. The extracts were found to decrease acetylcholinesterase activity but increase α-amylase activity. As a result, these plant extracts were found to have anticholinergic potential.