Fagonia glutinosa: chemical characterization, pharmacological properties and toxicity assessment conducted by in vitro, in vivo and in silico methods.

Fagonia glutinosa (Zygophyllaceae) is used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, fever, diabetes, and skin disorders. This study explores the biological potential of F. glutinosa extracts by evaluating their antioxidant, anticholinesterase, antidiabetic, and photoprotective activities, together with pharmacokinetic and safety assessments. GC-MS profiling revealed 50 compounds in the petroleum ether, 45 in the ethyl acetate, and 39 in the n-butanol extracts, predominantly fatty acids, terpenoids, and phenolic derivatives. Photoprotective evaluation displayed notable SPF values and antioxidant assays indicated that the ethyl acetate extract exhibited strong activity in β-carotene, CUPRAC, and FRAP tests (72.658 ± 2.8, 63.113 ± 0.577, and 89.47 ± 0.174 μg/mL, respectively). Enzyme inhibition studies demonstrated that the ethyl acetate extract displayed the strongest inhibitory effects against AChE, BChE, and α-amylase with IC₅₀ values of 12.92 ± 1.05, 36.44 ± 0.43 and 86.7 ± 0.22 μg/mL, respectively, supported by molecular docking results exhibiting high binding affinities of the major constituents. Acute toxicity testing at 2000 mg/kg confirmed a favorable safety profile, corroborated by ADMET predictions revealing absence of mutagenicity. Overall, these findings underscore the potential of F. glutinosa as a valuable source of phytochemicals for pharmaceutical, especially in the context of neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders.