Molecular Docking and Some Biological Activity of Senegalia senegal Gum Arabic Methanolic Extract

The Senegal tree (Sengalia senegal) is the primary plant source of Gum Arabic (GA), a natural secretion rich in soluble fiber and bioactive polysaccharides. It has longstanding uses in traditional medicine, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals. The present study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities of GA methanolic extract (GAME), supported by molecular docking analysis of its key compounds. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GCMS) analysis of the GAME identified many compounds, such as 9-octadecenoic acid (38.29%), methyl ester (15.52), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 3-nitro (9.8%), hexadecadienoic acid, methyl ester (8.5), and á-d-mannofuranoside, methyl (7.38). The molecular docking analysis showed that 9-octadecenoic acid had strong binding affinity with target proteins, which included xanthine oxidase (XO), lipoxygenase (LOX), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), with the highest affinity to XO (−137.03 kcal/mol) and lipoxygenase (−135.09 kcal/mol). GAME possessed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), with a zone of inhibition from 16.28 to 16.93 mm. B. subtilis was resistant to the tested extract. The extract also showed good membrane stability and potent inhibition of albumin, XO, LOX, and COX-2, with IC50 values of 31.62, 13.02, 27.6, and 28.99 μg/mL, respectively. The cytotoxic assessment demonstrated moderate, dose-dependent effects on the Caco-2 (colorectal adenocarcinoma) and HeLa (cervical carcinoma) cell lines. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of GA as a natural plant source of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents. The combination of molecular docking with in vitro assays provides strong evidence supporting its application in the development of plant-based pharmaceuticals. This research suggests that GA could be a useful ingredient in the creation of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs derived from plants.