Comprehensive experimental and computational analysis of endemic Allium tuncelianum: Phytochemical profiling, antimicrobial activity, and In silico studies for potential therapeutic applications

Abstract

Allium tuncelianum (TG), an endemic garlic species from Tunceli, Turkey, was investigated using a multidisciplinary approach combining experimental and computational methods. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations with B3LYP/def2-SVP/def2-TZVP basis sets were employed to analyze electronic properties, reactivity, and stability under gas and ethanol conditions. Headspace/GC-MS identified 10 major components, with diallyl disulfide (48.03 %) and 1-propene (20.72 %) as predominant. Antimicrobial assays revealed potent activity against MRSA, Salmonella paratyphi A, and E. coli, with MIC values as low as 0.063 mg/mL. Antioxidant capacity, evaluated via DPPH, metal chelating, and FRAP assays, showed promising results, with the water extract exhibiting the highest activity (1.74 mg BHT equivalent/mL). DFT and molecular docking studies highlighted key compounds as potential inhibitors of E. coli Gyrase B, with binding energies of −5.68 and −6.07 kcal/mol. ADME predictions indicated favorable drug-like properties, though some compounds showed potential CYP450 interactions and toxicity. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of TG's biochemical profile and therapeutic potential, offering insights for future research and optimization.