HPLC-DAD phytochemical profiles of Thymus cariensis and T. cilicicus with antioxidant, cytotoxic, anticholinesterase, anti-urease, anti-tyrosinase, and antidiabetic activities

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This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical compositions and biological activities of the Thymus cariensis and T. cilicicus. The phytochemical compositions were identified by HPLC-DAD. Luteolin, rosmarinic acid, and coumarin were the major compounds in the extracts of T. cariensis while rosmarinic and vanillic acids were the dominant compounds in the extracts of T. cilicicus. The methanol extract of T. cilicicus exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in β-carotene-linoleic acid (IC50: 9.65 ± 0.81 µg/mL), and CUPRAC (A0.50: 24.79 ± 0.02 µg/mL) assays while the methanol extract of T. cariensis were found to be active in DPPH• (IC50: 17.90 ± 0.15 µg/mL) and ABTS•+ (IC50: 12.71 ± 0.40 µg/mL) assays. The methanol extracts of T. cariensis and T. cilicicus showed the best cytotoxicity against MCF-7 with IC50 values of 27.65 ± 0.96, 83.57 ± 1.20 µg/mL, respectively. The methanol extract of T. cariensis was the most efficient extract against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), urease and tyrosinase enzymes whereas the hexane extract of T. cariensis was active against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between phenolic compounds and biological activities. These results show that Thymus species could be considered as a valuable resource for the food pharmaceutic and cosmetic industries due to their significant biological effects.