A simple validated HPTLC method for the analysis of flavonoids and molecular docking studies of novel tri-terpenoid glycoside isolated from Carya illinoinensis bark with potential anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities

Carya illinoinensis (Family Juglandaceae) is frequently used in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-rheumatic, anti-diabetic, and diuretic activities. Column chromatography was used to separate phytoconstituents from an ethanolic extract of powered bark. The terpenoid glycosidic compound, CI-01, was isolated as light-yellow crystalline powder in 0.33% (w/w) yield having melting point 94–96 °C, R_F value 0.57 (in MeOH:CHCl₃;20:80), UV absorption maxima 242 nm in methanol and molecular ion [M + H]⁺ peak at 420.4 m/z. Based on high-performance thin-layer chromatography and spectral data, the isolated compound CI-01, was identified as Farnesoic acid -L-glucoside. The ethanolic extract of Carya illinoinensis (CIE) at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg and isolated compound CI-01 at 10 mg/kg dose were used for studying anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. After 5 h of treatment with CI-01, the mean increase in paw volume was 0.459 ± 0.054 ml, which is corresponding to the standard drug indomethacin's 0.443 ± 0.041 ml. However, CIE groups receiving 100 and 200 mg/kg exhibited 0.518 ± 0.068 and 0.486 ± 0.048 ml, respectively. Compared to the control group of mice, animals treated with CIE and CI-01 dramatically reduced the number of writhes caused by acetic acid. AutoDock Vina program was used for molecular docking of the compound CI-01 with various targets, including COX-1, COX-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor-α, and opioid receptors exhibiting mean binding energies of -5.36, -7.37, -7.24, -4.27, and -7.04 kcal/mol, respectively. In conclusion, CI-01, isolated from Carya illinoinensis extract, demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities at a dose of 10 mg/kg and displayed promising interaction with COX-2 in molecular docking study.