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May 16, 2023

Phytochemical screening and allelopathic potential of phytoextracts of three invasive grass species

Scientific Reports volume 13,

Scientific Reports volume 13, Article number: 8080 (2023) Cite this article

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Undoubtedly, it is important to remain vigilant and manage invasive grasses to prevent their spread and mitigate their negative impact on the environment. However, these aggressive plants can also play a beneficial role in certain contexts. For example, several invasive grasses provide valuable forage for livestock and have disease control potential. Therefore, a research experiment was conducted to explore the pros and cons of this approach, not only for surrounding vegetation but also for human and animal disease control. The study is primarily focused on developing livestock feed, plant-derived herbicides, and an understanding of the phytotoxic effects of invasive species. All plant parts of Cenchrus ciliaris L., Polypogon monspeliansis L., and Dicanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf, were tested for their phyto-chemical screening, proximate, and toxicity analysis which was caused by the methanolic extract of these grass species. Qualitative phytochemical screening tests were performed for proximate composition analysis and toxicity assessment essays. The phytochemical analysis revealed the positive results for alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, phenols, saponins, and glycosides, while negative for tannins. Comparison of proximate analysis intimated maximum moisture (10.8%) and crude fat (4.1%) in P. monspeliensis, whereas maximum dry matter (84.1%), crude protein (13.95%), crude fiber (11%), and ash (7.2%) in D. annulatum. Five (10, 100, 500, 100, 10,000 ppm) and three (10, 1000, 10,000 ppm) different concentrations of methanolic extract prepared from C. ciliaris, P. monspeliansis, and D. annulatum were used respectively for root inhibition and seed germination essay. Furthermore, three different concentrations (10, 30, 50 mg) of plant fine powder were used for sandwich method test. There was a significant decline in the growth rate of experimental model radish seeds (P > 0.005), and results from sandwich method tests showed suppressed growth of root hairs, inhibiting the anchoring of the radish seed. In comparison, results manifest that; P. monspeliansis indicated an upsurge of inhibition (66.58% at 10,000 ppm), D. annulatum revealed soar germination (75.86% in controlled conditions), and C. ciliaris exhibited dramatic shoot up of inhibition because of sandwich method test (14.02% at 50 mg). In conclusion, although grasses are toxic, it is important to consider the beneficiary account.

Due to ever-increasing global population1, the quest for maximization of agricultural yield has boosted the use of agricultural inputs to minimize the constraints (nutrient deficiency, and pathogens) in crop production2. However, the increased use of synthetic fertilizers, insecticides3 and weedicides could deteriorate the agroecosystem that ultimately raises the health concerns for both the humans and animals4,5. In this perspective, allelopathic extracts from plants might serve as eco-friendly alternatives for a sustainable agricultural production6. For instance, the phytoextracts from allelopathic plants has been recognized as the natural reservoirs of plant growth promoters7. In addition, the potential of several phytoextracts as bio-pesticides has also been reported in previous studies8. Therefore, the utility of allelochemicals against the pests has attracted the interests of researchers and majority of biopesticides were prepared with an aim to control the insect attack8,9. However, the biopesticides for weed management are still very limited.

Invasive crop species pose a complex and persistent challenge for any cropping system, as they aggressively encroach upon and disrupt the growth of primary crops in their vicinity10. The ecological and health risks associated with the extensive use of synthetic herbicides, coupled with the scarcity of plant based alternatives have become a pressing issue in modern agriculture11. Hence, in today's agriculture to meet the needs of sustainability, it's imperative to explore the possibility of using plant-derived materials to combat weeds instead of traditional herbicides12,13. Previously, allelopathic extracts from sorghum and traditional medicinal shrubs have shown phytotoxic potential against the weeds in field crop production14. Similarly, Persicaria lapathifolia inhibit Echinochloa colona weed12, Artemisia argyi water extract inhibit weeds including Brassica pekinensis, Lactuca sativa, Portulaca oleracea, Oxalis corniculata, and Setaria viridis15. Ferula assafoetida L. and Ricinus communis L., in concentrations of 0.75% and 1% respectively, limit the germination of Amaranthus retroflexus L. weed seeds by around 70%16. Taken together, it is suggested that allelochemicals found in certain plants could be explored further to evaluate their natural allelotoxic effects. Previously, the bioassay of lettuce plant was carried out using the sandwich methods and phytoextracts from various invasive herbs and shrubs from different locations of Pakistan and Japan revealed the growth inhibition of lettuce14. P. monspeliensis has the potential to be used as a decorative, a food source, and considered as significant pasture grass17. Similarly, the phytochemical evaluation of naturally occurring and easily available grass species could be very useful in tapping their herbicidal potential as they exist as a persistent and dominant in the agroecosystem.

A consistent finding from previous studies of invasive grasses is that they pose an obvious threat to environment18. In contrast, native plants and livestock development were also identified as beneficiaries19. Based on proximate composition analysis, targeted grazing of invasive grasses could bring about groundbreaking outcomes, not only for native plants, but also for the climate20 and wildlife conservation efforts21. Targeted grazing may prove particularly effective in controlling the spread of Buffle grass, an aggressive invader with significant fire hazards22. Moreover, qualitative phytochemical testing valued for identification of all chemical constituents which includes presence of protein, carbohydrate, phenol, flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids was confirmed in extract of different parts of test grass23. Plant extracts showed valuable role against pathogenic microbes24, all extracts inhibited bacteria which leads to development of inhibition zone25. It can then be estimated how grass contributes to different activities, including cattle feed, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties, management of diseases, drug discovery etc26. It is also possible to produce effective drugs for humans and animals based on this phytochemical screening.27,28.

Dhaman grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), is one of the important grasses in Pakistan with high ethnobotanical uses and all parts of this grass are used in the form of infusion for various purposes29,30,31. It is remarkably resilient and capable of thriving in harsh and constantly fluctuating environment, including high temperature, salinity32, heavy metal33, intense solar radiation, and minimal moisture34,35. This grass disturbs local vegetation and fauna resulting in changes in the available thermal landscape as a result of the invasive plant's disturbance36. In addition, the selected grass species are highly competent for CO2 assembly as well as they consume nitrogen (N) from the atmosphere and play a vital role in the recycling of N from land37,38. It has been utilized widely for medicinal purpose and served as an important feed for grazing animals39,40. Previous studies regarded it as a potent grass yielding compounds of high therapeutic values, used by drug-developing companies41. The derived compounds from C. ciliaris have fungicidal nature and were also effective against bacteria31,41, Cyclooxygenase (COX) I and II activity42, kidney pain, tumors and wounds, indicating that its phytoextracts are toxic28,43,44. P. monspeliensis seeds germinate quickly, they could be effective in saline desert soil restoration programmes45. It usually develops in the salty ecosystem like sabkhas and can be found from the humid bioclimatic zone to the Sahara. It sustains productivity also in excessive salinity and drought17. P. monspeliensis (Rabbit's foot grass) plays an essential role in the food, forage, ornamental, and restoration of arid and salt-affected soils because it allows the use of provenances that germinate and establish well under adverse conditions. P. monspeliensis has an important role in phytoremediation, especially due to its ability to uptake Ni46. Although Polpogan species are recognized for their usefulness as forage and weed plants, their potential as herbicides has not been studied extensively40,47. Another grass species, commonly called Forrsk or Marvel grass (Dichanthium annulatum) is a perennial and densely tufted grass with rhizomiferous main stems. It is used to treat dysentery and menorrhagia28. It is inhabitant of the Middle East, tropical Asia, and parts of Africa. Naturalized in some places, such as Australia47,48. D. annulatum comprised of Na, Mg, K, Al, Ca, Fe, Si, Sr, Ti, Ba, H, Li, O, N, Ar, and Cs which clarifies its nutritional status. In Pakistan, it has been recorded only from the Punjab, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, and Ladhar. Altogether, these grass species have been utilized as animal feed and medicinal plants.

Keeping in view, the field domination, easy availability of these grasses and their utility in the livestock feed, we designed this study with an aim to screen out the presence of different valuable phytochemicals, to analyze the proximate composition, and to evaluate the dose-dependent toxicity of the phytoextracts from these grasses on the germination and growth rate of indicator species (Rhaphanus sativus). The findings of this study may provide a promising direction for developing the potential to livestock feed, plant-derived herbicides, pros and cons underlying the phytotoxic accounts of invasive species.

C. ciliaris, P. monspeliensis and D. annulatum were collected from different areas of Punjab. All reagents and chemicals which were used in this experiment and mentioned below were procured from "The University of Lahore".

The plant samples of test grasses were collected from Sargodha and Faisalabad regions of Pakistan in April 2018. The Collection and extraction of samples followed the methodology outlined by Arora et al.41. The plant were thoroughly washed, dried in the laboratory at room temperature, and then ground into a fine plant powder. The preparation of Methanol extract involved mixing 250 g of plant material with 750 ml of methanol, which was then subjected to soxhlet rotatory apparatus for 36-h. Care was taken to ensure that the temperature did not exceed the boiling point of the corresponding solvent).The Filtrate was separated using Whatman No. 1 filter paper and the resulting extract was placed in beakers and left at room temperature for one week. Afterwards, the extracts were concentrated using a laboratory vacuum rotary evaporator at 40 °C, weighed, labeled, and stored in sterilized bottles at 4 °C for further analysis.

The phytotoxic activity of C. ciliaris, P. monspeliensis, and D. annulatum was investigated. Methanol extract of these plants were prepared at Five different concentrations (10, 100, 500, 1000, and 10,000 ppm) and tested for their ability to inhibit root length. In addition, three concentrations (100, 1000, and 10,000 ppm) of the extract were used to assess their effect on germination of radish seeds. A sandwich method using fine powder of all three types of grass (10, 30 and 50 mg) was also employed. The Radish seed germination assay and root inhibition were conducted following Turker and Usta 200849 protocol, while the sandwich method was carried out according to Fuji et al.50,

All seeds were sterilized by using sodium hypochlorite for ten minutes followed by washing with distilled water51. Each petri dish (90 mm dia.) lined with two filter paper (Whatman No.1) was positioned in each petri plate and then 5 ml of five different concentrations of extract (10, 100, 500, 1000 and 10,000 ppm) was tipped out in every plate with the help of a pipette. After solvent evaporation, 5 ml distilled water was added to every petri plate. Ten seeds were placed in each petri plate, which was then tightly sealed and incubated at 23 °C. The length of the root of all seeds was measured after 1, 3, and 5 days. Percentage of growth inhibition was measured by the given formula.

PT for the length of roots of seeds where extracts were applied (treatment group), and PC for the length of roots where extracts were not used (control group).

This experiment was conducted to check the toxic potential of methanolic extract from three different test grasses. Petri dishes with filter papers were prepared in the same way as the root inhibition experiment. However, the key differences were the concentration of extracts and the number of seeds used. In this experiment, hundred seeds of radish were used with three different extract concentrations (100, 1000, and 10,000 ppm). The germination process was observed daily and germination rate was recorded for five days. The germination index was calculated using specific formula.

where N1, N2, N3

The control group with no treatment was taken as standard. The petri-dishes were kept at room temperature and the germination rate was recorded daily for five days.

In the sandwich method, agar solution (0.5% w/v) was prepared and autoclaved at 121 °C for 15 min. Different amounts of plant material (10, 30, 50 mg) were sandwiched in petri plates. With the help of pipette, 5 ml of agar was applied on the plant material as the first layer, fine powder of C. ciliaris, P. monspeliensis and D. annulatum moved upward, and then powder becomes gelatinous, again plant material placed on this gelatinous powder, and then agar was applied as the second layer. In every Petri plate, five seeds of radish were placed on top agar layer. Petri plates were covered with aluminum foil and placed in an incubator at room temperature. Growth of seeds were observed by measuring the length of the lower plant part (root) and the upper portion (hypocotyl), after 72 h for every growing seed. Effect of extract on root was evaluated using the following equation

PT indicates root inhibition from treatment groups and PC showed the control or treatment of 0 concentrations.

Qualitative phytochemical tests were performed according to the protocol of52.

Mayer's reagent and Dragendorff's reagent were prepared to check out the presence or absence of alkaloids. For the preparation of Mayer's reagent, two solutions were prepared. In one solution, Mercuric chloride (0.356 g) was mixed with 60 ml of water, and for another solution, potassium iodide (5 g) was mixed with 20 ml water. For the preparation of Dragendorff's reagent, two solutions were prepared, for one solution, 80 ml of distilled water was mixed with 1.7 g of Basic Bismuth nitrate and tartaric acid (20 g), for another solution, 40 ml of distilled water was mixed with 16 g of Potassium iodide. Both prepared solutions were mixed well in 1:1ratio. The mixture of 0.5 g of Plant extract with 8 ml of 1% HCl was prepared, warmed, and filtered. Obtained filtrate was treated to distinguish with both prepared reagents. Turbidity or precipitation is indication of the positive results for test showing alkaloids existence in C. ciliaris.

To remove fatty material, 0.5 g of freshly prepared extracts were mixed up with petroleum ether. This mixture was joined with 80% ethanol (20 ml) and then filtered. The obtained filtrate was used for mixture preparation of this filtrate and 1% KOH (4 ml). The dark yellow colored filtrate is an indication of positive results for flavonoids.

0.5 g of extract was taken in a test tube, 1 M NaOH was used to moisten the filter paper, and then the test tube was covered with this filter paper. In a beaker, water was placed on flame for boiling. When the water reaches boiling point, the test tube was positioned in it for a few minutes and then moved out from the water, and paper was removed from the test tube. It was observed in UV light, and yellow fluorescence indicates the presence of coumarins.

FeCl3 solution was prepared to identify the phenols. 3–4 drops of this solution were treated with plant extract to identify the phenols. Bluish black color indicates the presence of phenols.

0.5 g of extract was placed in boiling water in a test tube then the tube was cooled at room temperature. Froth formation indicates the presence of saponins.

For the identification of tannins, 0.5 g extract was mixed with distilled water (20 ml) in the test tube, boiled, and this mixture was filtered. The filtrate obtained was mixed with 0.1% freshly prepared FeCl3 solution. Brownish-green or bluish-black color is the indication of tannins presence.

Previous research shows a connection between natural nutrients and crude extracts utilized in conventional medication53. Proximate analysis was carried out to find the percentage of moisture content, dry matter, protein, fat, and crude fiber by following the method54. Moisture content was measured according to Nancy Trautmann's method and the same procedure followed by Ashraf et al.30. The most famous Kjeldahl method was used to find the crude protein percentage, and fat extraction was carried out with a Soxhlet apparatus. Acid–base treatments were used to estimate the crude fiber percentage.

The moisture content of the grass was calculated according to the protocol of Nancy Trautmann and Tom Richard. Firstly, a small container was weighed and then 1 g of plant material was put into placed in the oven at 105–110 °C for duration of 24 h to remove any moisture. After that, the sample was weighed again, and the weight of the container was subtracted. The moisture content was calculated using the following formula.

Mn for moisture content (%) of material n and WW for the wet weight of the sample, and Wd is the weight of the sample after drying.

According to AOAC methods described by Poitevin et al.55 dry matter was determined by using the formula

The total nitrogen content of the samples was determined by the micro-Kjeldahl method. Finely ground material (1 g) was put in a digestion flask with 3 g of digestion mixture (mercury sulfate (HgSO4) and potassium sulphate (K2SO4) at a ratio of 1:9 and 20 ml concentrated H2SO4. The samples were boiled in a digestion apparatus for about two hours until the contents became clear. The digested material was diluted to 250 ml. Ten ml were transferred to the micro Kjeldahl distillation apparatus and distilled in the presence of 50 mg Zn dust and 10 ml NaOH (40%). The distillate was collected in a receiver containing 5 ml boric acid (2%) and methyl red as an indicator solution. The contents of the receiver were titrated against sulfuric acid to a light pink color endpoint. From the volume of acid, the percentage of nitrogen was estimated, and protein was determined using the formula:

A dried sample was extracted with petroleum ether (400C–600C) in a Soxhlet apparatus to estimate the lipid contents to remove the ether soluble component. The extracted material was dried to a constant weight in an oven at 700 °C. The lipid content was calculated using the following formula:

The planting sample was boiled in the presence of 1.25% NaOH, followed by 1.25% H2SO4 to dissolve alkali and acid-soluble components. The residue containing crude fiber was dried to a constant weight. The loss of weight on ignition in a muffle furnace at 500 °C was used to calculate the crude fiber.

A dried (1 g) sample was carbonized on an oxidizing flame until no fumes came out. It was then ignited at 600 °C in a muffle furnace to burn off all organic matter.

The data was sorted by Microsoft Excel 2010 software, statistical analysis was performed using Statistix 8.1 (Analytical Software, Tallahassee, FL, USA). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to detect differences among treatments. The least significant difference (LSD) test was performed to ascertain significant differences between means. A value of p < 0.01 denoted statistical significance.

C. ciliaris, P. monspeliensis and D. annulatum were collected from University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. All the experiments were performed in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations".

Radish (Rhaphanus sativus) seeds were utilized to evaluate the toxicity levels of the extracts from three grasses. The selection of radish seeds was based on their ease of germination, affordability, rapid growth rate year-round availability. The experiment was carried out under controlled conditions, using methanol extract at a concentration of 10 ppm, and the maximum root length was observed from the first to the fifth day of germination, while root inhibition was at its minimum. Inhibition in root length was increased by increasing the concentration of methanol extracts, with the maximum inhibition observed at 10,000 ppm. Furthermore, when the methanol extract concentration was 10,000 ppm, P. monspeliensis showed the highest root inhibition (83.58%), followed by C. ciliaris (73.39%) and D. annulatum (67.42%) as demostrated in Fig. 1.

Root inhibition of radish seedlings at different methanolic concentrations of C. ciliaris, P. monspeliensis and D. annulatum methanolic extract.

Data regarding germination rate of radish seeds by methanolic extracts of P. monspeliensis, C. ciliaris and D. annulatum is presented in Fig. 2. The maximum germination rate was observed in controlled conditions (no methanol extract) from the first to the fifth day of germination. The germination rate of seeds was decreased linearly by increasing concentrations of prepared methanol extract. The minimum germination rate was found to be 21.12%, 31.6%, and 36.07% by methanol extract of 10,000 ppm of P. monspeliensis, C. ciliaris, and D. annulatum respectively, as depicted in Fig. 3.

Germination rate of radish seedlings at different concentrations of C. ciliaris, P. monspeliensis and D. annulatum methanolic extract.

Inhibition rate of both root and hypocotyl of radish seedlings at different amount of C. ciliaris, P. monspeliensis and D. annulatum plant powder.

Petri dishes were sterilized and used for three replications of each selected amount (10, 30, 50 mg) of plant material. Two layers of Agar gel were used to sandwich the plant material. and seeds were positioned on the top agar layer. The petri dishes were then covered with aluminium foil and kept in dark for 72 h to observe any inhibition in root length and hypocotyl. The addition of plant powder led to an increase in inhibition rate. The experiment results showed that, in comparison with the control group, the, maximum inhibition rates for the P. monspeliensis, C. ciliaris, and D. annulatum methanolic extractswere 14.02%, 9.80%, and 6.23%, respectively, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Various biological activities of plants may be determined by evaluating their chemical ingredients. In the present investigation, qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed by methanol extract of all three kinds of grass. Phytochemical screening showed that alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, coumarins, and saponins were present in C. ciliaris, P. monspeliensis, D. annulatum, while tannins were absent in all the selected grass species, as shown in Table 1.

When considering the significance of flora and determining the health content of plants, it is important to evaluate their chemical composition. In addition to providing feed quality information, proximate analysis can also estimate TDN and energy consumption of animals in different species and classes. It plays a vital role in assessing the suitability of plants species for the requirement of various ruminants. Crude protein and digestible nutrients are two factors associated with feeding value. The production of milk, meat, and reproduction of animals are all dependent on crude protein. C. ciliaris, P. monspeliensis and D. annulatum were analyzed for proximate composition analysis of moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, Dry matter, and Ash values have been presented in Table 2.

Phytochemicals are plant-derived compounds; this group also includes secondary metabolic chemicals56,57. Phytochemicals are majorly accountable for the therapeutic role of plants28. These compounds increase the nutrient absorption and utilization in animals, boost their immune system, and enhance their overall health and productivity58. Our research focused on three invasive grass species and identified the toxicity level, phytochemical analysis and proximate composition. According to phytochemical screenings conducted on selected invasive grasses, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, coumarins, and saponins were detected in C. ciliaris, P. monspeliensis, and D. annulatum while tannins were not detected. Alkaloids act as natural insecticides and can protect the animals from insect-borne diseases59. Flavonoids and phenols have antioxidant properties and can scavenge harmful free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation60,61,62. Alkaloid and saponins in the plant make the plant extracts potential antifungal agents63. Saponins improve digestion and absorption of nutrients by increasing the permeability of the gut wall, thereby improving feed efficiency64. Thus, the presence of these phytochemicals in the test grass suggests that it can enhance the health and performance of livestock. Moreover, absence of tannins in the test grass is an advantage for livestock as tannins interfere with nutrient absorption and reduce food palatability. Tannins bind with protein and carbohydrates and make feed unavailable for digestion. Tannins can cause astringency and bitterness which affect the food acceptance by animals65. Overall, the absence of anti-nutritional factors in the test grasses suggest that it can be a good forage option for all livestock.

The phytotoxic results of seed germination, root inhibition and sandwich method experiments suggest that the tested grasses have some level of toxicity that can be harnessed as a natural herbicide. The tested grasses showed phytotoxicity due to presence of certain phytochemicals that can be used as natural herbicide. This offers a promising and eco-friendly solution for farmers seeking alternatives to synthetic herbicides that can harm the environment and human health. The grasses can inhibit weed growth by interfering with their metabolic processes or disrupting their cell membranes. This natural herbicide can be cost-effective, sustainable, and a valuable contribution to sustainable agriculture.

Polypogon monspenliens can produce more phytosiderophores and organic acids, including citric, acetic, oxalic, and malic acids. It is suitable for pasture grass; it prevents iron chlorosis in calcareous soils and intercropping systems with fruit trees17. The bioactive compounds found in D. annulatum include flavonoids, terpenoids, alcohols, phenols, and fatty acids. Hexadecanoic acid (20–38%) was found to be more abundant than other compounds that aid in disease prevention28. Results demonstrated that methanolic extracts of test invasive grasses impacted the development of sample radish seeds. When compared to root length, the germination process was less suppressed. Roots are sources of mineral absorption and collection, so plant extract significantly impacts roots66,67. Turk et al.68 explained that developing phenomena are more vulnerable to phytotoxic allelochemicals than germination. Integument seeds were not in direct contact with toxic plant extract; roots were disturbed more than seeds as stunted root growth was observed. Seeds were less affected; it could be because their integuments protected them. Dandelot et al.69 noted that sample seeds were less sensitive to phytotoxins than seedlings. Phytoextract toxicity inhibits plant root and aerial development even if seeds germinate70. These findings demonstrated that the most significant concentrations of methanol extracts hinder plant development and might be investigated further to develop plant-based herbicides. P. monspeliensis has a high biomass production rate. At 100 mm NaCl salinity, seed germination was shown to be drastically reduced (8% germination rate) (P < 0.0001, F = 43.133), but seed germination continues even at 300 mm NaCl. Maximum growth is possible at light salinity (50 mm)45.

Sandwich method approach was helpful to find out the toxic nature of the plant. Anjum and colleagues used the sandwich approach to investigate the substantial inhibitory effects of Albizia lebbeck and Broussonetia papyrifera during examining the inhibitory influence of 14 medicinal plants71. Another research utilised the sandwich technique to assess the inhibitory impact of Ziziphus spina-christi, Desf., Juglans regia, Lavandula stoechas, Artemi-siaherba-alba Asso., Rosmarinus officinalis, and Cenchrus ciliaris on chicory (Cichorium pumilum) and berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum). Seven different amounts (0, 2.5, 3.75, 5.6, 6.5, 7.5, and 12.5%) of plant powder were used and resulted in considerable (51%) inhibitory impact of C. ciliaris on berseem seeds at the maximum amount of plant powder72.

A relatively small amount of ash was found in our sample when compared to the other chemical ingredients. Several factors that impact ash content include; Weather, drought, humidity, maturity stage, and the sample acquired at a particular season15. Plants require various nitrogenous foods for vegetative development. The three fundamental building elements of life are protein, carbs, and fat. Proteins found in seeds are crucial for plant nutrition73,74. Plant stores protein well in the early stages of development; it is then used during flowering and fruiting and during the dormant period when their nutritional status deteriorates75. Ruminants’ crude protein consumption in the diet varies from 7 to 20%, depending on the species, sex, and physiologic condition76. Our test grasses had CP values ranging from 7.25 to 13.95%, indicating suitable for animal feed. The threshold value of roughly 3.6% crude proteins in feed is mandatory77. D. annulatum, one of our test grasses, had the highest CP level (> 13). CP concentrations greater than 13% indicate that high protein-containing range plants, especially shrubs, can be utilized to supplement poor-quality roughages to boost ruminant livestock78. D. annulatum have nutritional components (mainly magnesium) in considerable concentrations, which could be exploited in the food and pharmaceutical industries28. Lipids are an excellent energy source and help transport fat-soluble vitamins, protect and preserve vital tissues, and conduct essential cell functions. D. annulatum consist of several hydrocarbons, fatty acids, alcohols, and volatile chemicals. Plants benefit from moisture content because it regulates food processing, storage, and transportation79. Sasoli et al.77 reported 28.08% CP, 3.02% EE, and 5.15% ash in Polupogan monspeliensis, whereas Cenchrus ciliaris had 20.56% CP, 3.10 EE %, and 19.59% ash. The crude fiber in food indicates the presence of non-digestible carbohydrates and lignin. Crude fiber assists food digestion; Its excess may result in intestinal ailment, reduced edibility, and less nutritional use80,81. Kirwa et al.82 observed significant variations among C. ciliaris ecotypes and crude fiber levels ranging from 38.4 to 32.4%. Hoyam and coworkers found similar results; they suggested Cenchrus ciliaris composition is suitable for livestock, research results showed 92.17% DM, 91.14% OM, 14.41% CP, 0.87% EE, 55.88% ADF, 75.00% NDF, 7.50% ADL, 11.15% NFE, 10.80% IVOMD, and 1.73% ME in Cenchrus ciliaris83.

The proximate composition results indicates that the selected grass species are highly effective for livestock. The high dry matter percentage shows high nutrient content per unit weight, which is valuable for meeting the nutritional requirements of livestock84. The low moisture content indicates that the grass can be easily stored without the risk of spoilage85. High crude protein provides essential amino acids required for growth, maintenance and repair of animal tissues. Crude fat provides a source of energy for the animals, while the fiber content help in digestion and maintaining gut health86. The ash content in the grass provides essential minerals for the animal health. Overall, the proximate composition results suggest that the experiment grasses are highly effective and nutritious feed for livestock, which can promote productivity, and overall health.

The current study assessed the poisonous effects of methanol extracts from all test plants (C. ciliaris, P. monspeliensis, and D. annulatum) through radish seed germination assay, root inhibition assay, and sandwich method. So, this study demonstrated that all three grass species show bioactive toxic principles. Phytochemical tests resulted positive for all except tannins. We concluded that these plants have toxic effects on the growth and germination and could be explored in detail to check their utility in herbicide formation. Besides, it also has many positive impacts for livestock feed and agriculture purpose. However, additional toxicity research is required to know about its quantity alteration and for separation and structural information of these bioactive compounds accountable for the toxicity.

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article.

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These authors contributed equally: Shaista Jabeen and Muhammad Fraz Ali.

College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China

Shaista Jabeen & Lixin Zhang

Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Sargodha Campus, Sargodha, 42100, Pakistan

Shaista Jabeen & Sunbal Khalil Chaudhari

College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China

Muhammad Fraz Ali

National Research Center of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan

Atta Mohi ud Din

College of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China

Talha Javed

Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya

Nouriya Salah Mohammed

Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan

Muhammad Ammar Javed

Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan

Baber Ali & Mehdi Rahimi

Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran

Mehdi Rahimi

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Conceptualization: S.J. and S.C.; data curation: M.F.A., T.J., M.A.J.; formal analysis, S.C., B.A. and M.A.J. funding acquisition: N.S.M., M.R. investigation: S.J. and L.Z.; methodology: S.J., S.C. and L.Z.; Resources: M.R.; software: A.M.U.D. and B.A.; validation: B.A., M.A.J., A.M.U.D.; visualization, S.C.; writing—original draft, S.J., M.F.A. B.A., and L.Z.; writing—review and editing, A.M.U.D., T.J., N.S.M., S.C., B.A., M.R.

Correspondence to Lixin Zhang or Mehdi Rahimi.

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Jabeen, S., Ali, M.F., Mohi ud Din, A. et al. Phytochemical screening and allelopathic potential of phytoextracts of three invasive grass species. Sci Rep 13, 8080 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35253-x

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Received: 25 November 2022

Accepted: 15 May 2023

Published: 18 May 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35253-x

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