Extraction, Identification and Quantification of Vitexin and p-Coumaric Acid from Basella alba L. Cultivated in Iraq

Authors

  • Sara H. Hachim Ministry of Health, Salah al-Din Health Directorate, Iraq
  • Nabaa M. Ibrahem Department of Pharmacognosy and medicinal plant, College of Pharmacy, University of Baghdad

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31351/vol35iss2pp166-179

Abstract

The objective of this work is to isolate, characterize, and quantify two bioactive substances from Basella alba (Malabar spinach), a plant of nutritional and therapeutic value. Vitexin and p-coumaric acid were isolated and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and Their characterization was carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and the spiking method, where the isolated compound was compared with the standard for confirmation. confirmationThe concentrations of p-coumaric acid and vitexin in Basella alba were found to be 144 µg/g and 220 µg/g, respectively, which are higher than those identified in previous studies. This suggests that environmental factors, particularly light exposure and geographical conditions, may play a significant role in enhancing the production of these secondary metabolites. Soxhlet extraction was employed to isolate and quantify the compounds, demonstrating high recovery rates consistent with previous findings.. These results highlight the potential of Basella alba as a valuable plant for further research into its health benefits. Future studies should explore its applications in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.

How to Cite

1.
Sara H. Hachim, Nabaa M. Ibrahem. Extraction, Identification and Quantification of Vitexin and p-Coumaric Acid from Basella alba L. Cultivated in Iraq. Iraqi Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 24 [cited 2026 Jun. 25];35(2):166-79. Available from: https://www.bijps.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/bijps/article/view/4698

Publication Dates

Received

2025-06-19

Revised

2025-06-26

Accepted

2025-12-13

Published Online First

2026-06-24

References

Ahmed MH, Omran ZS, Oraibi AG. Increasing some flavonoids compounds for Echinacea purpurea L. using copper oxide nanoparticles in vitro. Iraqi J Agric Sci. 2024;55(2):733–743.

M SB, Ahmed RM. Response of yield and chemical composition of black cumin to different fertilizer in Sulaimani region. Iraqi J Agric Sci. 2022;53(4):901–910

Al-Abas MMA, Nasser JM. Optimal conditions for extraction of phenolic compounds and flavonoids from millet bran and studying some of their biological activity. Iraqi J Agric Sci. 2025;56(Special):57–67.

Yuan G, Guan Y, Yi H, Lai S, Sun Y, Cao S. Antibacterial activity and mechanism of plant flavonoids to Gram-positive bacteria predicted from their lipophilicities. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):10471.

Peter B, Kaufman LJ, Warber CS, James A, Harry DL, Brielmann B. Natural products from plants. CRC Press; London: 1999.

. Dewick PM. Medicinal natural products: a biosynthetic approach. John Wiley & Sons; England

Swandiny GF, Primahana G, Prastya ME, Ariani N, Susanti D, Hanafi M, Abdillah S. An ethnopharmacology study of Indonesian medicinal plants in Gunung Sari Village as dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitor. Pharmacia. 2023;70:365–373.

. Ullah A. Important flavonoids and their role as a therapeutic agent. Molecules. 2020;25(22):1–39.

Grubben GJH, Denton OA. Plant resources of tropical Africa: vegetables. PROTA Foundation;

Rathee S, Ahuja D, Rathee P, Thanki M, Rathee D. Cytotoxic and antibacterial activity of Basella alba whole plant: a relatively unexplored plant. Pharmacol Online. 2010;3:651–658.

Roy SK, Gangopadhyay G, Mukherjee KK. Is stem twining form of Basella alba L. a naturally occurring variant? Curr Sci. 2010;98:1370–1375.

Irakli M, Kargiotidou A, Tigka E, Beslemes D, Fournomiti M, Pankou C, et al. Genotypic and environmental effect on the concentration of phytochemical contents of lentil (Lens culinaris L.). Agronomy. 2021;11(6):1154

Biondi F, Balducci F, Capocasa F, Visciglio M, Mei E, Vagnoni M, et al. Environmental conditions and agronomical factors influencing the levels of phytochemicals in Brassica vegetables responsible for nutritional and sensorial properties. Appl Sci. 2021;11(4):1927.

Dahanayaka LW, Mapa MMST, Kadigamuwa CC, Udayanga D. Impact of geographical variation on nutritional and antioxidant properties.

Deshmukh SA, Gaikwad DK. A review of the taxonomy, ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Basella alba (Basellaceae). J Appl Pharm Sci. 2014;4(1):153–165.

. Adenegan-Alakinde TA, Ojo FM. Phytochemical and antioxidant properties of forms of Basella. Int J Veg Sci. 2019;25(5):431–440.

Xu H, Zhou Q, Liu B, Cheng KW, Chen F, Wang M. Neuroprotective potential of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) polyphenols in Alzheimer’s disease: A review. J Agric Food Chem. 2021;69(39):11554–11571.

Al-Jaberi AMZ, Al-Fadal SAM, Abdul-Jalil TZ, Al-Wafi H. HPLC isolation of rutin, hesperidin and quercetin from Ruta chalepensis extract growing in Iraq. Pharmacogn J. 2023;15(4).

Nandhini S, Ilango K. Simultaneous quantification of lupeol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol in extracts of Adhatoda vasica Nees leaves and its marketed formulations by a validated RP-HPLC method. Pharmacogn J. 2020;12(4):850–.

Huck W, Günther K. Evaluation of detection methods for the reversed phase HPLC determination of 3′,4′,5′-trimethoxyflavone in different phytopharmaceutical products and in human serum. Phytochem Anal. 2001;12(2):104–9.

Ahmed MN, Khamees AH. Isolation and characterization of luteolin and ferulic acid from Plumbago auriculata cultivated in Iraq. Iraqi J Pharm Sci. 2024;33(4SI):271–281.

Ezghayer MA, Ahmed OH, Tawfeeq MF. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS phytochemicals profiling of n-butanol, chloroform, and hexane fraction of Xanthium strumarium fruit extract. Biomed Pharmacol J. 2024;17(2).

Mohammed ZM, Al-Hamashi AAA. Molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation, ADMET, synthesis, and preliminary cytotoxic activity of new triazole-based derivatives with expected histone deacetylase inhibition activity. Iraqi J Pharm Sci. 2025;33(4SI):101–110.

Ravikumar N, Gaddamanugu G, Solomon KA. Structural, spectroscopic (FT-IR, FT-Raman) and theoretical studies of the 1:1 cocrystal of isoniazid with p-coumaric acid. J Mol Struct. 2013;1033:272–279.

Enema JO, Umoh UF, Johnson EC, Doudin K, Imoh JI. Isolation and characterisation of docosanoic acid, quercetin and vitexin from Dennettia tripetala root and stem bark and their in-vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. J Adv Med Med Res. 2025;37(3):209–228.

McMurry J. Organic chemistry. 9th ed. Boston: Cengage Learning; 2016.

Kumar BR, Anupam A, Manchikanti P, Rameshbabu AP, Dasgupta S, Dhara S. Identification and characterization of bioactive phenolic constituents, anti-proliferative, and anti-angiogenic activity of stem extracts of Basella alba and rubra. J Food Sci Technol. 2018;55:1675–1684.

Fu Y, Zu Y, Liu W, Zhang L, Tong M, Efferth T, et al. Determination of vitexin and isovitexin in pigeonpea using ultrasonic extraction followed by LC-MS. J Sep Sci. 2008;31(2):268–275.

Abdullah Hussein Kshash, Omar Jamal Mahdi Al-Asafi, Hanaa Kaen Salih. Synthesis, characterization, and investigation of mesomorphic properties of a new 2,5-bis-(4-alkanoyloxybenzylidene)cyclopentan-1-one. Acta Chim Slov. 2022;69:519–25.

Mohammed MF, Hassawi DS, Ibraheem NK. Extraction, fractionation, and separation of cynaroside and scolymoside from Cynara scolymus L. grown in Iraq. Iraqi J Agric Sci. 2023;54(2):421–430.

Bose A, Banerjee S, Mandal SK, Bose S, Maity S. Comprehensive ethnomedicinal, pharmacological and phytochemical report on Basella alba L. (Basellaceae). 2023.

Kurahayashi K, Hanaya K, Higashibayashi S, Sugai T. Improved preparation of vitexin from hot water extract of Basella alba, the commercially available vegetable Malabar spinach and the application to semisynthesis of chafuroside B. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2020;84(8):1554–1559.

Soni U, Brar S, Gauttam VK. Effect of seasonal variation on secondary metabolites of medicinal plants. Int J Pharm Sci Res. 2015;6(9):3654.

Kumar SS, Arya M, Mahadevappa P, Giridhar P. Influence of photoperiod on growth, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in callus cultures of Basella rubra L. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2020;209:111937.

Lakshmanan M. Plant extraction methods. In: Introduction to Basics of Pharmacology and Toxicology: Volume 3: Experimental Pharmacology: Research Methodology and Biostatistics. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore; 2022. p. 773–83.

Kaur J, Kaur R. p-Coumaric acid: A naturally occurring chemical with potential therapeutic applications. Curr Org Chem. 2022;26(14):1333–1349.

Ganesan K, Xu B. Molecular targets of vitexin and isovitexin in cancer therapy: a critical review. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2017;1401(1):102–113.

Downloads

Published

2026-06-24