Therapeutic target enzymes inhibitory potential, antioxidant activity, and rosmarinic acid content of Echium amoenum

OpenAlex İngilizce

Although the genus Echium is well known for its traditional uses as food and medicine, but there is a lack of information about its health beneficial effects confirmed with modern studies. So, in this study, total phytochemical content, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibitory effects of various extracts of Echium amoenum (borage) petals were evaluated. Moreover, rosmarinic acid content of the extracts was determined using HPLC analysis. The decoction, infusion, and methanolic extract contained high amount of phenolics (phenols, flavonoids, and tannins). The best antioxidant activity was exhibited by decoction and hydroalcoholic extract. The decoction showed the highest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity with IC50 values of 22.8 and 17.1 μg/mL, respectively. Given to the OH radical, the hydroalcoholic extract indicated the highest scavenging effect (IC50 110.8 μg/mL). Concerning the ferric-reducing power, superiority of the decoction made it be different with other samples. According to the enzymatic assays, the decoction manifested the best inhibition against α-amylase and α-glucosidase (IC50 40.8 and 16.9 μg/mL, respectively). The decoction also exerted the highest tyrosinase inhibition effect. Methanolic extract exhibited better inhibition against cholinesterases. It could be concluded that rosmarinic acid content and also antioxidant capacity is the highest in samples which are obtained using hot water. These results support the use of E. amoenum decoction and infusion in folk medicine and suggest that the plant could be used as a rich source of natural antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory agents.