GC–MS profiling, phytochemical and biological investigation of aerial parts of Leucophyllum frutescens (Berl.) I.M. Johnst. (Cenizo)

Abstract

Leucophyllum frutescens (Berl.) I.M. Johnst has been used as a crude drug for treating various respiratory ailments, dysentery, cataract and liver disorders in the folk medicine systems by the inhabitants of America and Mexico. The Phytochemical and biological investigation was established by spectrophotometrically and chemical profiling was performed by GC–MS analysis. The chemical profiling by GC–MS analysis revealed that HELE majorly contains 9-octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester, pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-, methyl ester, 2,6-bis(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclooctane, (+)-sesamin, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester, 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, ethyl ester, (Z,Z,Z)-, n-hexadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester, phytol, methyl stearate, cyclohexanone, 1H,3H-Furo[3,4-c]furan, 1,4-bis(3,4-dimethoxy phenyl)tetrahydro-, [1R-(1.alpha.,3a.alpha.,4.alpha.,6a.alpha.)]-, and squalene. Strong inhibition of α-glucosidase and urease enzymes was observed by HELE (IC50 0.3321 mg.mL−1) and CHLE (IC50 4.711 mg.mL−1) extracts, respectively. Phytochemical quantification revealed high TPC by BULE (189.369±1.393 mg GA.Eq.gm−1 DE ± S.D) and high TFC by CHLE (232.458±1.589 mg Qu.Eq.gm−1 DE ± S.D). CHLE presented with highest antioxidant content equivalent to Trolox, by five different spectrophotometric methods such as TAA, DPPH, TEAC, FRAP, and CUPRAC. The study concludes that L. frutescens possesses significant antioxidant, antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities indicating that L. frutescens as a potential candidate for discovery of novel phytochemical products and industrial applications.