Metabolite-Driven Biological Activity of Mandragora autumnalis and Spartium junceum: A Comparative LC-MS/MS Study on Antioxidant, Cholinesterase, and Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibition

In this study, the targeted phytochemical profiles and multi-target biological activities of Mandragora autumnalis L. and Spartium junceum L. were evaluated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and antimicrobial assays. LC-MS/MS analysis showed that M. autumnalis predominantly contained low-molecular-weight phenolic acids, particularly protocatechuic acid (0.6850 µg/mg), whereas S. junceum was richer in flavonoids and isoflavonoids, especially genistein (1.8280 µg/mg) and cynaroside (1.5240 µg/mg). M. autumnalis showed stronger antioxidant activity, with a DPPH IC₅₀ value of 60.16 µg/mL and a FRAP absorbance of 2.098 ± 0.042 at 45 µg/mL, whereas S. junceum showed weak DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀: 813.50 µg/mL). M. autumnalis also exhibited stronger acetylcholinesterase and carbonic anhydrase inhibition, on the other hand S. junceum displayed a butyrylcholinesterase-oriented inhibitory profile. Preliminary antimicrobial screening revealed inhibition zones of 11-13 mm against selected bacterial strains. Overall, the findings suggest that low-molecular-weight phenolic acids may contribute to the biological activity of M. autumnalis, whereas flavonoids and isoflavonoids may support the characteristic inhibitory profile of S. junceum, highlighting the importance of qualitative metabolite composition in shaping extract bioactivity.