Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Antidiabetic Activities of Celery (Apium graveolens L.)

Background: Secondary metabolites (SM) are not needed for survival, but help the cell (organism) interact with its surroundings. Different kinds of natural active products come from plants because of their special characteristics. Researchers have examined the phenolic and antioxidant compounds in celery (Apium graveolens L.) because it belongs to the apiaceae family. 

Objectives: Phytochemical screening and the identification of various natural chemical components in the methanolic leaves extract of Apium graveolens L. by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and research on its anti-microbial and anti-diabetic properties were the aims of this study.

Materials and Methods: Cleaned and isolated foreign substances Apium graveolens L. which were bought dried from markets in Babylon Province and then studied at the college science’s advanced botanical laboratory in the University of Babylon. An electrical machine crushed the substances and after, the resulting powder was kept in nylon bags in the lab at room temperature until experiments began. About 1 gram of laboratory crushed leaf powder was converted into pellets by mixing with KBr. All samples were checked with three types of tests and pellets made of KBr that were not treated were used as controls.

Results: While getting ready for FTIR analysis, the values measured are Peak Wave number (cm-¹), Intensity, Corr. Intensity, Area and Functional group assignment were (667.37, 69.147, 1.522, 2.915, and Alkenes), (894.97, 82.045, 0.457, 1.958, and Alkenes), (1029.99, 61.548, 17.442, 32.156, and alkyl halides), (1238.30, 81.092, 0.518, 2.645, alkyl halides), (1317.38, 81.874, 81.874, 3.182, and alkyl halides), (1373.32, 81. 514, 0.203, 2.255 and alkyl halides), (1519.91, 82.843, 1.227, 3.086, and Aromatic), (1616.35, 77.669, 0.321, 3.636, and Amide), (1743.65, 87.838, 6.121, 2.211, and Ester), (2852.72, 87.591, 2.845, 2.629, and Alkane), (2920.23, 83.176, 5.651, 4.259, and Alkane). The Celery (Apium graveolens) extract and the antibiotics AM-Amikacin, CFO-Cefoxitin and RF-Rifampicin (standards) performed with an antibacterial activity of 26.34±0.23, 23.04 ±0.25, 35.13±0.48, 30.19±0.39, and 33.00±0.39 against Enterococcus faecalis, while recorded 20.24±0.16, 19.22±0.20, 30.96±0.41, 27.68±0.36 and 30.83±0.40 for Escherichia coli and recorded 25.47±0.27, 15.58±0.14, 28.94±0.39, 26.07±0.36 and 28.00±0.38 in Enterobacter aerogenes in the same time recorded 17.40±0.11, 23.05±0.26, 32.94±0.43, 34.98±0.46 and 30.71±0.39 respectively for Staphylococcus aureus,  and recorded 25.10±0.29, 18.25±0.22, 28.01±0.37, 23.05±0.34 and 27.86±0.36 respectively for  Streptococcus pyogenes. Based on the extract used, the activity of Celery proved effective at blocking α-amylase at comparative percentages (79.54±0.52, 48.93±0.26 and 11.13±0.07, respectively). In separate trials, each sample proved to have inhibitory activity against α- glucosidase enzymes (recorded: 54.08±0.26, 22.68±0.12 and 11.70±0.05).

Keywords: Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic, Celery (Apium graveolens L.).