Activités biologiques des huiles de graines de deux plantes médicinales

Abstract

In the growing search for natural alternatives to synthetic compounds, this study investigates the physicochemical and biological properties of cold-pressed vegetable oils extracted from the seeds of Lepidium sativum and Lagenaria siceraria, two medicinal plants widely used in traditional medicine. Cold pressing was selected to preserve heat-sensitive bioactive compounds and yielded oils of good quality, characterized by low peroxide values, high saponification indices (>336 mg KOH/g), and a richness in esters, indicating promising functional and industrial potential. Biological assays revealed moderate antioxidant activity in both oils, particularly in Lagenaria siceraria, as measured by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging tests, though IC50 values remained relatively high (>800 μg/mL), likely due to the lipophilic nature of the extracts. Notably, α-amylase inhibition reached 37.51% for Lagenaria siceraria, suggesting potential applications in enzyme modulation and postprandial glycemic control. Anti-inflammatory activity was not significant under the conditions tested, possibly due to the low extraction of hydrophilic active compounds. These findings highlight the potential of these plant-based oils as sources of bioactive compounds for nutritional, cosmetic, or therapeutic applications. Further studies involving oil fractionation, targeted extraction techniques, and in vitro validation are recommended to fully exploit their functional value.