Chemical constituents and antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Iphiona discoidea: A stenoendemic species from Iran

Somayeh Zoori; Mehdi Dehghani; Hamid Beyzaei; Alireza Samzadeh-kermani; Razieh Rahmatizadeh

doi:10.21448/ijsm.1759706

Chemical constituents and antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Iphiona discoidea: A stenoendemic species from Iran

Abstract

The hydroethanolic Soxhlet extraction of Iphiona discoidea (Asteraceae), an unstudied endemic species in eastern Iran, was investigated for the first time to evaluate its chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial potential. The chemical constituents of the extract were identified using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay and the broth microdilution and streak plate methods, respectively. GC-MS analysis identified 29 compounds, among which n-hexadecanoic acid (38.755%), and phytol acetate (18.611%) exhibited prominent peaks, suggesting their significant contribution to the extract’s bioactivity. The hydroethanolic extract of Iphiona discoidea yielded an IC₅₀ of 57.84± 5.4 μg/mL, indicating a moderate antioxidant potential compared to ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ = 3.94 μg/mL). The extract exhibited selective antibacterial activity, with the strongest effects observed against Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus, while no activity was detected against Salmonella enterica or Staphylococcus epidermidis. In addition, among the three fungal strains tested, the extract demonstrated the strongest inhibitory effect against Fusarium oxysporum and the weakest against Aspergillus fumigatus. These findings suggest that I. discoidea possesses promising antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, supporting its potential as a natural source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research was financially supported by the University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran, through grant numbers IR-UOZ-GR-0331, IR-UOZ-GR-4711, and IR-UOZ-GR-9007.

Thanks

The authors thank the University of Zabol for providing the necessary facilities, resources, and equipment for this research. We also sincerely thank Mrs. Zahra Ebrahimnezhad for her valuable assistance to the first author during the laboratory experiments.

References

Abdallah, E.M., Alhatlani, B.Y., de Paula Menezes, R., & Martins, C.H. (2023). Back to Nature: Medicinal Plants As Promising Sources For Antibacterial Drugs In The Post-Antibiotic Era. Plants, 12(17). https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12173077
Adams, R.P. (2007). Identification of Essential Oil Components by Gas Chromatography/mass Spectrometry. Allured Publishing Corporation.
Anwar, H., Hussain, G., Nisar, J., & Mustafa, I. (2018). Antioxidants from Natural Sources. In E. Shalaby & G.M. Azzam (Eds.), Antioxidants in Foods and Its Applications. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.75961
Aparna, V., Dileep, K.V., Mandal, P.K., Karthe, P., Sadasivan, C., & Haridas, M. (2012). Anti-inflammatory property of n-hexadecanoic acid: structural evidence and kinetic assessment. Chemical biology & drug design, 80(3), 434–439. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-0285.2012.01418.x
Basavegowda, N., & Baek, K.-H. (2021). Synergistic antioxidant and antibacterial advantages of essential oils for food packaging applications. Biomolecules, 11(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11091267
Beyzaei, H., Ebrahimnezhad, Z., & Dehghani, M. (2023). Antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of nannorrhops baluchestanica: An endemic palm species in Southeast Iran. Jentashapir Journal of Cellular and Molecular Biology, 14(1), e134760. https://doi.org/10.5812/jjcmb-134760
Beyzaei, H., Khosravi, Z., Aryan, R., & Ghasemi, B.J.J.o.t.I.C.S. (2019). A green one-pot synthesis of 3 (5)-substituted 1,2,4-triazol-5(3)-amines as potential antimicrobial agents. Journal of the Iranian Chemical Society, 16(12), 2565-2573.
Chaachouay, N., & Zidane, L. (2024). Plant-derived natural products: a source for drug discovery and development. Drugs and Drug Candidates, 3(1), 184-207. https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc3010011

Chandimali, N., Bak, S.G., Park, E.H., Lim, H.J., Won, Y.S., Kim, E.K., Park, S.I. & Lee, S.J. (2025). Free radicals and their impact on health and antioxidant defenses: a review. Cell Death Discovery, 11(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-024-02278-8
Dehghani Kazemi, M., Beyzaei, H., & Ebrahimnezhad, Z. (2023). Chemical composition, antioxidant potential, and antimicrobial activity of Nannorrhops ritchiana (Griff) Aitch. Archives of Advances in Biosciences, 14(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.22037/aab.v14i1.39282
Ebrahimnezhad, Z., Dehghani, M., & Beyzaei, H. (2022). Assessment of phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant properties, and antimicrobial activities of Stocksia Brahuica benth. International Journal of Basic Science in Medicine, 7(1), 34 40. https://doi.org/10.34172/ijbsm.2022.07
Gangwar, B., Kumar, S., & Darokar, M.P. (2023). Antioxidant phytochemicals as novel therapeutic strategies against drug-resistant bacteria. In S. Sabuncuoglu & A. Yalcinkaya (Eds.), Importance of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant System in Health and Disease. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108220
Georgiadou, E., Merxmuller, H.W., Rechinger, K.H., & Wagentz, G. (1980). Flora Iranica Compositae IV Inuleae (K. H. Rechinger, Ed. Vol. 145). Akademische Druck- und Verlagsanstalt.
Grigore-Gurgu, L., Dumitrașcu, L., & Aprodu, I. (2025). Aromatic herbs as a source of bioactive compounds: An overview of their antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activity, and major applications. Molecules, 30(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30061304
Hamedi, A., Paslari, H., Azarpira, N., Heidari, R., Bordbar, L., & Pasdaran, A. (2025). Exploring the therapeutic potential of iphiona aucheri: Modulation of nitric oxide levels in RAW 264.7 Macrophages and Cytotoxic Effects on MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer and HT1080 Human Fibrosarcoma Cells. Journal of Medicinal plants and By products, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.22034/JMPB.2024.367490.1798
Hussein, Z., Aboalhur, F., Mshachal, M., & Alobaidi, A. (2025). Antioxdent, antifungal activities of n-hexadecanoic acid extracted from Algae. South Asian Research Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 7, 125-127. https://doi.org/10.36346/sarjps.2025.v07i04.003.et
Islam, M.T., Ayatollahi, S.A., Zihad, S.M.N.K., Sifat, N., Khan, M.R., Paul, A., Salehi, B., Islam, T., Mubarak, M.S., Martins, N., & Sharifi-Rad, J. (2020). Phytol anti-inflammatory activity: Pre-clinical assessment and possible mechanism of action elucidation. Cellular and Molecular Biology, 66(4), 264–269. https://doi.org/10.14715/cmb/2020.66.4.31
Nwozo, O.S., Magdalene, E.E., Maduabuchi, A.P., & Awuchi, C.G. (2023). Antioxidant, phytochemical, and therapeutic properties of medicinal plants: a review. International Journal of Food Properties, 26(1), 359-388. https://doi.org/10.1080/10942912.2022.2157425
Oguntoyea, S.O., Hamid, A.A., Ajibade, S.O., Zubair, M.F., Olaniyi, B.O., Bello, O., Gbadamasi, A. A., Taiwo, L.O., & Ogheneovo, P. (2016). GC-MS analysis, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of extracts from Ficus mucoso leaves. Nigerian Journal of Chemical Research, 21(1), 51–65. https://doi.org/10.4314/NJCR.V21I1
Pereira, A.G., Echave, J., Jorge, A.O.S., Nogueira-Marques, R., Nur Yuksek, E., Barciela, P.,…Prieto, M.A. (2025). Therapeutic and Preventive Potential Of Plant-Derived Antioxidant Nutraceuticals. Foods, 14(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101749
Plants of the World Online. (2025). Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/
Prakash, B., Kumar, A., Singh, P.P., & Songachan, L.S. (2020). 1 - Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of phytochemicals: Current status and future perspective. In B. Prakash (Ed.), Functional and Preservative Properties of Phytochemicals (pp. 1 45). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818593-3.00001-4
Rajab, M.S., Cantrell, C.L., Franzblau, S.G., & Fischer, N.H. (1998). Antimycobacterial activity of (E)-phytol and derivatives: a preliminary structure-activity study. Planta medica, 64(1), 2–4. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-957354
Rajčević, N., Bukvički, D., Dodoš, T., & Marin, P.D. (2022). Interactions between natural products—A review. Metabolites, 12(12), 1256. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12121256
Rosa, G.P., Seca, A.M.L., Pinto, D.C.G.A., & Barreto, M.C. (2024). New Phytol Derivatives With Increased Cosmeceutical Potential. Molecules, 29(20), 4917. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29204917
Rustaiyan, A., Azar, P.A., Moradalizadeh, M., Masoudi, S., & Ameri, N. (2004). Volatile constituents of three compositae herbs: anthemis altissima L. var. altissima Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq. and Grantina aucheri Boiss. Growing Wild in Iran. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 16(6), 579-581. https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.2004.9698802
Saha, P., Rahman, F.I., Hussain, F., Rahman, S.M.A., & Rahman, M.M. (2022). Antimicrobial diterpenes: Recent development from natural sources. Frontiers in pharmacology, 12, 820312. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.820312
Sajayan, A., Ravindran, A., Selvin, J., Ragothaman, P., & Seghal Kiran, G. (2023). An antimicrobial metabolite n- hexadecenoic acid from marine sponge-associated bacteria Bacillus subtilis effectively inhibited biofilm forming multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa. Biofouling, 39(5), 502–515. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927014.2023.2232722
Shah, M.A.R., Khan, R.A., & Ahmed, M. (2020). Phytochemical assessment of Iphiona aucheri (Bioss.) Anderb. and its cytotoxic, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. Bangladesh Journal of Botany, 49(4), 913-918.
Sharifi-Rad, M., Mohanta, Y.K., Pohl, P., Jaradat, N., Aboul-Soud, M.A.M., & Zengin, G. (2022). Variation of phytochemical constituents, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties of Grantia aucheri (Boiss.) at different growth stages. Microbial pathogenesis, 172, 105805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105805
Tsao, R. (2010). Chemistry and biochemistry of dietary polyphenols. Nutrients, 2(12), 1231-46. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu2121231
Wernery, U., Bourauel, T., Röder/ Roeder, E., Meier, U., & Wiedenfeld, H. (1997). Toxic Diterpene Glycosides from Iphiona aucheri. Fitoterapia, 68, 278-280.
Zhang, D., Ivane, N.M.A., Haruna, S.A., Zekrumah, M., Elysé, F.K.R., Tahir, H.E., Wang, G., Wang, C., & Zou, X. (2022). Recent trends in the micro-encapsulation of plant-derived compounds and their specific application in meat as antioxidants and antimicrobials. Meat Science, 191, 108842. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2022.108842
Zhao, Z., Wang, J., Kong, W., Newton, M.A., Burkett, W.C., Sun, W., Buckingham, L., O’Donnell, J., Suo, H., Deng, B., Shen, X., Zhang, X., Hao, T., Zhou, C., & Bae-Jump, V.L. (2024). Palmitic acid exerts anti-tumorigenic activities by modulating cellular stress and lipid droplet formation in endometrial cancer. Biomolecules, 14(5), 601. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050601

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Botany (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Somayeh Zoori This is me
0009-0008-1177-2969
Iran

Mehdi Dehghani ^*
0000-0002-7616-6715
Iran

Hamid Beyzaei This is me
0000-0002-6824-1367
Iran

Alireza Samzadeh-kermani This is me
0000-0001-6183-6299
Iran

Razieh Rahmatizadeh This is me
0009-0005-5273-7551
Iran

Early Pub Date

July 25, 2026

Publication Date

September 2, 2026

Submission Date

August 6, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 25, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 13 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21448/ijsm.1759706

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA75BB34RM

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Zoori, S., Dehghani, M., Beyzaei, H., Samzadeh-kermani, A., & Rahmatizadeh, R. (2026). Chemical constituents and antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Iphiona discoidea: A stenoendemic species from Iran. International Journal of Secondary Metabolite, 13(3), 621-631. https://doi.org/10.21448/ijsm.1759706

AMA

1.Zoori S, Dehghani M, Beyzaei H, Samzadeh-kermani A, Rahmatizadeh R. Chemical constituents and antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Iphiona discoidea: A stenoendemic species from Iran. Int. J. Sec. Metabolite. 2026;13(3):621-631. doi:10.21448/ijsm.1759706

Chicago

Zoori, Somayeh, Mehdi Dehghani, Hamid Beyzaei, Alireza Samzadeh-kermani, and Razieh Rahmatizadeh. 2026. “Chemical Constituents and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potential of Iphiona Discoidea: A Stenoendemic Species from Iran”. International Journal of Secondary Metabolite 13 (3): 621-31. https://doi.org/10.21448/ijsm.1759706.

EndNote

Zoori S, Dehghani M, Beyzaei H, Samzadeh-kermani A, Rahmatizadeh R (September 1, 2026) Chemical constituents and antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Iphiona discoidea: A stenoendemic species from Iran. International Journal of Secondary Metabolite 13 3 621–631.

IEEE

[1]S. Zoori, M. Dehghani, H. Beyzaei, A. Samzadeh-kermani, and R. Rahmatizadeh, “Chemical constituents and antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Iphiona discoidea: A stenoendemic species from Iran”, Int. J. Sec. Metabolite, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 621–631, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.21448/ijsm.1759706.

ISNAD

Zoori, Somayeh - Dehghani, Mehdi - Beyzaei, Hamid - Samzadeh-kermani, Alireza - Rahmatizadeh, Razieh. “Chemical Constituents and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potential of Iphiona Discoidea: A Stenoendemic Species from Iran”. International Journal of Secondary Metabolite 13/3 (September 1, 2026): 621-631. https://doi.org/10.21448/ijsm.1759706.

JAMA

1.Zoori S, Dehghani M, Beyzaei H, Samzadeh-kermani A, Rahmatizadeh R. Chemical constituents and antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Iphiona discoidea: A stenoendemic species from Iran. Int. J. Sec. Metabolite. 2026;13:621–631.

MLA

Zoori, Somayeh, et al. “Chemical Constituents and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potential of Iphiona Discoidea: A Stenoendemic Species from Iran”. International Journal of Secondary Metabolite, vol. 13, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 621-3, doi:10.21448/ijsm.1759706.

Vancouver

1.Somayeh Zoori, Mehdi Dehghani, Hamid Beyzaei, Alireza Samzadeh-kermani, Razieh Rahmatizadeh. Chemical constituents and antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Iphiona discoidea: A stenoendemic species from Iran. Int. J. Sec. Metabolite. 2026 Sep. 1;13(3):621-3. doi:10.21448/ijsm.1759706