Bioactive phenolics from Carthamus lanatus L.

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Pharmacognosy
• Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

• Carthamus lanatus, a plant species, is a potential source of bioactive compounds.
• Flavonoids and phenolic acids are known for their diverse biological activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and identify chemical constituents from the aerial parts of Carthamus lanatus.
• To evaluate the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds and plant extracts.

Main Methods:

• Phytochemical analysis involving isolation techniques for flavonoids and phenolic acids.
• In vitro antioxidant activity assessment using the alpha,alpha-diphenyl-beta-picrazylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay.
• Cytotoxicity evaluation of the primary isolated compound.

Main Results:

• Isolation of two flavonoid aglycons, eight flavonoid glycosides, chlorogenic acid, and syringin.
• Identification of isorhamnetin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside and chlorogenic acid as new compounds for the genus Carthamus.
• The ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated superior antioxidant capacity compared to the butanol fraction.
• Luteolin 7-O-beta-D-glucoside was identified as the main constituent with evaluated cytotoxicity and antioxidant properties.

Conclusions:

• The phytochemical investigation of Carthamus lanatus yielded a diverse range of flavonoid glycosides and phenolic compounds.
• The plant extract exhibits significant antioxidant potential, primarily attributed to its ethyl acetate fraction.
• Further research into luteolin 7-O-beta-D-glucoside may reveal therapeutic applications.