Investigation of Antioxidant, In Silico and In Vivo Antiulcer Activities of New Natural Xanthenone and Antracenone Isolated from Tricholaena teneriffae L. Roots

This study aims to investigate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ulcer properties of two newly isolated natural compounds (1–2) from the hydroalcoholic root extract of Tricholaena teneriffae L. Through bioassay-guided fractionation, two new natural compounds, xantenone and anthracenone, were isolated and characterized using 1D/2D NMR and mass spectrometry. While 6-hydroxy-3-methoxy-7H-benzo[de]anthracen-7-one (HK2) showed significant antioxidant activity, 11-hydroxy-12H-benzo[a]xanthen-12-one (HK1) exhibited only weak activity. However, both compounds demonstrated a gastroprotective effect in vivo, similar to that of omeprazole. In silico screening revealed that both molecules bind stably to the H+/K+-ATPase proton pump, suggesting a potential mechanism for inhibiting gastric acid secretion. In the ethanol-induced ulcer model, treatment with HK1 and HK2 significantly reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, gastric hypersecretion, and ulcer area, with HK2 showing greater efficacy. These results suggest that the active fraction of T. teneriffae root has anti-ulcer properties beyond its antioxidant effects, making it a promising natural source of gastroprotective agents.