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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Phytochemical Profiling and Anti-Obesogenic Potential of Scrophularia Aestivalis Griseb. (Scrophulariaceae)

by
Konstantina Priboyska
1,
Monika N. Todorova
2,
Vanya I. Gerasimova
1,3,
Martina S. Savova
2,4,
Slaveya Krustanova
1,3,
Zhanina Petkova
1,3,
Stoyan Stoyanov
5,
Milena P. Popova
1,3,
Milen I. Georgiev
2,4,* and
Kalina Alipieva
1,3,*
1
Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
2
Laboratory of Metabolomics, Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
3
Centre of Competence “Sustainable Utilization of Bio-Resources and Waste of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants for Innovative Bioactive Products” (BIORESOURCES BG), 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
4
Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
5
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2025, 30(21), 4202; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30214202 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 23 September 2025 / Revised: 22 October 2025 / Accepted: 24 October 2025 / Published: 27 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Natural Products Chemistry)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Scrophularia aestivalis Griseb. is a Balkan endemic species whose phytochemical composition and medicinal properties have not been previously investigated. The therapeutic potential of Scrophularia species has attracted considerable attention, resulting in extensive studies on their chemical and pharmacological properties, with over 200 secondary metabolites identified to date. The present study aimed to explore the phytochemical composition of Bulgarian-origin S. aestivalis, including isolation and characterization of individual secondary metabolites. From methanol extract of the plant’s aerial parts, aucubin, harpagide, 8-O-acetylharpagide, cis- and trans-harpagoside, 6-O-methyl catalpol, acylated derivatives of catalpol, and linarin were isolated and identified. The anti-obesity activity of the extract and primary fractions was evaluated in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of obesity. Significant lipid-reducing activity was demonstrated in four fractions, indicating promising anti-obesogenic properties. Following chemical profiling and quantitative analysis, the main components of the most active fractions were identified, namely the cis- and trans-harpagoside isomers. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that treatment with harpagoside reduced lipid accumulation and improved mitochondrial function in glucose-supplemented worms, with the data suggesting potential involvement of the SKN-1 signaling pathway.
Keywords: Scrophularia aestivalis Griseb.; cis-harpagoside; trans-harpagoside; UPLC-HRMS/MS; HPLC method; Caenorhabditis elegans; obesity; mitochondrial function Scrophularia aestivalis Griseb.; cis-harpagoside; trans-harpagoside; UPLC-HRMS/MS; HPLC method; Caenorhabditis elegans; obesity; mitochondrial function

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MDPI and ACS Style

Priboyska, K.; Todorova, M.N.; Gerasimova, V.I.; Savova, M.S.; Krustanova, S.; Petkova, Z.; Stoyanov, S.; Popova, M.P.; Georgiev, M.I.; Alipieva, K. Phytochemical Profiling and Anti-Obesogenic Potential of Scrophularia Aestivalis Griseb. (Scrophulariaceae). Molecules 2025, 30, 4202. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30214202

AMA Style

Priboyska K, Todorova MN, Gerasimova VI, Savova MS, Krustanova S, Petkova Z, Stoyanov S, Popova MP, Georgiev MI, Alipieva K. Phytochemical Profiling and Anti-Obesogenic Potential of Scrophularia Aestivalis Griseb. (Scrophulariaceae). Molecules. 2025; 30(21):4202. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30214202

Chicago/Turabian Style

Priboyska, Konstantina, Monika N. Todorova, Vanya I. Gerasimova, Martina S. Savova, Slaveya Krustanova, Zhanina Petkova, Stoyan Stoyanov, Milena P. Popova, Milen I. Georgiev, and Kalina Alipieva. 2025. "Phytochemical Profiling and Anti-Obesogenic Potential of Scrophularia Aestivalis Griseb. (Scrophulariaceae)" Molecules 30, no. 21: 4202. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30214202

APA Style

Priboyska, K., Todorova, M. N., Gerasimova, V. I., Savova, M. S., Krustanova, S., Petkova, Z., Stoyanov, S., Popova, M. P., Georgiev, M. I., & Alipieva, K. (2025). Phytochemical Profiling and Anti-Obesogenic Potential of Scrophularia Aestivalis Griseb. (Scrophulariaceae). Molecules, 30(21), 4202. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30214202

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