Electrochemical Detection and DNA Interaction of Gilaburu (Viburnum opulus) Extract from Commercial Tablets

Abstract

Gilaburu (Viburnum opulus) is a medicinal plant known for its diverse pharmacological properties, including anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and vasodilatory effects. Traditionally, it has been used in the treatment of respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, and metabolic disorders In this study, the electroactivity of Gilaburu (Viburnum opulus) extract was detected directly from its commercial tablet form using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV), and its interaction with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) was electrochemically investigated. The interaction between the extract and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) was investigated in solution phase by monitoring the oxidation peak potentials and currents of guanine and adenine. Following the interaction, a significant decrease in the adenine oxidation peak current and a positive shift in its peak potential were observed, indicating an intercalative binding mode. Based on the reduction in adenine signal, the extract exhibited approximately 65% toxicity toward dsDNA, suggesting a moderate level of DNA damage. The ability to directly detect Gilaburu extract from commercial tablets highlights the practical applicability of this electrochemical approach for pharmaceutical quality control. The method demonstrated high sensitivity, with limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) calculated as 4.5 and 15.1 µg/mL, respectively. The results provide an initial framework for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the pharmacological activity of Gilaburu through its interactions with nucleic acids.