Profiling of secondary metabolites and DNA typing of three different Annona cultivars grown in Egypt

OBJECTIVES: Natural products are often efficacious and safe alternatives to synthetic drugs. This study explored secondary leaves and bark metabolites profiles in extracts of a new Egyptian hybrid, Annona cherimola × Annona squamosa, known as Abdel Razek. This hybrid exhibited 100% similarity with A. cherimola as evidenced by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analyses. METHODS: Primary constituents in methanol extracts of different plant organs were identified. Extracts richest in alkaloids and polyphenolics were assessed for in vitro antioxidant activity and the most potent were further studied in vivo for treating gastric ulcer in rats. The latter activity was assessed histopathologically. RESULTS: Structural analysis with HPLC/ESI-MS(n), and UPLC/HESI-MS/MS identified 63 metabolites, including seven amino acids, 20 alkaloids, 16 flavonoids, eight phenolics and other compounds. Severe stomach alteration was observed after ethanol induction in rats. Ulcer score, oxidative stress biomarkers, cell organelles biomarker enzymes, and gastrointestinal histological features improved to variable degrees after treatment with Annona Abdel Razek hybrid leaves and bark methanol extracts. CONCLUSION: Extracts of Annona Abdel Razek had showed in vitro antioxidant effect and may be promising for the treatment of gastric ulcers. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11306-022-01911-w.