Phytochemical analysis and the first report of decyl gallate and 4-ethoxycoumarin from marine seagrass Posidonia oceanica collected from Benghazi beach Libya

Abstract

The goal of this research is to examine the chemical composition of the plant and identify the phytochemical constituents of the endemic seagrass species in the Mediterranean Sea, Posidonia oceanica, which has historically been used for a variety of purposes. After doing chemical screening, the existence of triterpenoid and phenolic proteins was discovered. Using preparative thin-layer chromatography and flash column chromatography techniques, seven phenolic compounds were isolated from the methanolic extracts of several plant parts. Namely decyl gallate, sinapinic acid, alpha-methyl cinnamic acid, acetosyringone, and chlorogenic acid from leaves, 4-ethoxycoumarin from rhizomes, and syringic acid from roots. The structures of these compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic methods such as ‘H and 13C-NMR. The spectra were analyzed and visualized using Mnova software and compared with standard spectra from the Willy spectra database, biological magnetic resonance data bank, and chemical book. This is the first report of decyl gallate and 4-ethoxycoumarin from the plant. This study contributes to the understanding of the phytochemical profile of Posidonia oceanica and provides valuable insights into its potential applications in various fields, including medicine, agriculture, and industry.