Ethnobotanical survey, antioxidant activity of Pistacia lentiscus leaf extract from Honaïne region (Tlemcen, North-West Algeria) using in vitro and in silico methods

In recent decades, the study of traditional use of medicinal and aromatic plants has gained in importance. Among these plants, Pistacia lentiscus, a traditional medicinal species widespread in Algeria, belongs to the Anacardiaceae family and is characterized by its persistent leaves. It is known locally as "Darw" and is recognized for its several therapeutic virtues since antiquity. This study aimed to gain an understanding traditional use of P. lentiscus by the local population of the Honaïne region, through ethnobotanical surveys, antioxidant capacity evaluation using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) free radical scavenging method and docking simulation to predict and evaluate the effectiveness of ligand in binding to the active sites of the receptor glutathione (3R3E). The work showed that this medicinal plant was the most used species in this area, particularly for its therapeutic properties in treating respiratory problems (20%), rheumatism (16%), stomach and intestinal inflammation (14%), and dermatological affections (12%). Its leaves were the most widely used part of the plant (40%), with decoction being the main mode of preparation (35%). The spectrophotometric analyses revealed that this organ had a high total phenolic compounds content (80 mg GAE/g DW) and exhibited satisfactory antioxidant activity (IC50: 0.37 mg/ml), confirming its traditional uses. The molecular docking simulations identified 3,4,5-tri-O-galloylquinic acid as a promising compound with a high docking score against the glutathione 3R3E enzyme (-8.24 kcal/mol). This study highlights the potential for promoting the production of natural antioxidants from P. lentiscus as a replacement for synthetic products and the contribution to the knowledge of medicinal flora in Algeria.