Scabiosa stellata L. Phenolic Content Clarifies Its Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

The phenolic profile of Scabiosa stellata L., a species used in Moroccan traditional medicine, is disclosed. To obtain that profile the species extract was analyzed by ultra-high-performance chromatography coupled to photodiode-array detection and electrospray ionization/ion trap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn). Twenty-five phenolic compounds were identified from which isoorientin and 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid can be highlighted because they are the major ones. The antioxidant activity was significantly controlled by the fraction type, with the n-butanol fraction showing the highest antioxidant activity (FRS50 = 64.46 µg/mL in the DPPH assay, FRS50 = 27.87 µg/mL in the ABTS assay and EC50 = 161.11 µg/mL in the reducing power assay). A phytochemical study of the n-butanol fraction was performed, and some important flavone glycosides were isolated. Among them the tamarixetin derivatives—the less common ones—can be emphasized. This phytochemical study and polyphenolic profile can be correlated with S. stellata extracts in vitro antioxidant activity. Moreover, it can be regarded as an evidence of its medicinal use and can incentivize its consumption.

Botanical and Genetic Identification Followed by Investigation of Chemical Composition and Biological Activities on the Scabiosa atropurpurea L. Stem from Tunisian Flora

“…A high dietary intake of luteolin seems to low the risk of acute myocardial infarction, and it was proven to have in vivo cancer chemopreventive properties [ 42 ]. The dicaffeoylquinic acid isomers detected herein indicating a molecular formula of C 25 H 24 O 12 and showing a deprotonated ion peak at m/z 515, was closely related to the chlorogenic derivatives 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic and 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acids, with the same formula and different protonation level ( m/z 517), recently isolated from S. stellata [ 31 ]. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of dicaffeoylquinic acids have also been reported [ 41 ].…”

“…Most of these compounds were reported in essential oils extracted from S. arenaria [ 29 ] and Scabiosa flavida [ 30 ]. However, the GC-MS profiling of the S. stellata lipophilic extract from Algeria showed sitosterol, ursolic acid, and oleanolic acid as the most abundant terpenes [ 31 ].…”

“…In apolar extracts (dichloromethane and chloroform extract), the vanillin was detected as the major compound, with a value of 104.11 μg g −1 ; nevertheless, it was not detected in polar extracts (ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts). Vanillin, a condensed tannin, is used as a food additive and its presence was previously highlighted in Scabiosa species; S. hymettia [ 14 ], S. arenaria [ 16 ], and S. stellata [ 31 ]. On the other hand, the flavones luteolin hexoside (564.58 μg g −1 ) and two dicaffeoylquinic isomers (224.38 and 213.63 μg g −1 ) were major acids detected exclusively in a polar extract with important values ( Table 3 ).…”

“…The same study revealed luteolin-7-O-gentiobioside, luteolin-7-O-D-rutinoside, and luteolin derivatives in methanol and butanol extracts. Additionally, luteolin was found to be ubiquitous in other Scabiosa species ( S. tenuis and S. stellata ) and identified in ethanol and methanol extracts [ 31 , 37 ]. A high dietary intake of luteolin seems to low the risk of acute myocardial infarction, and it was proven to have in vivo cancer chemopreventive properties [ 42 ].…”

Scabiosa Genus: A Rich Source of Bioactive Metabolites

“…In other cases, such as the species S. hymettia were isolated two interesting kaempferol derivatives, astragallin (kaempferol 3- O -β-D-glucoside) 2 and the new natural compound kaempferol-3- O -[3- O -acetyl-6- O -( E )- p -coumaroyl]-β-D-glucoside 8 (Figure 1; Table 1), which may explain the plant antimicrobial activity [23]. Most recently several flavonoids were isolated from S. stellata [2,29], not only are found for the first time in the genus, but also confirm its richness in these metabolites. Interesting derivatives, such as compounds 5 , 9 , 16 , 17 and 18 (Figure 1; Table 1) may be responsible for the plant antioxidant activity [2,29].…”