GC-MS and RP-HPLC Analysis Reveals Phytochemical Compositions and Antioxidant Potential in Solanum Schimperianum, Solanum Cordatum, and Solanum Nigrum Extracts from Saudi Arabia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.

2 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Folkloric herbal remedies play a significant role in modern medicine, with Solanum plants like S. schimperianum, S. cordatum, and S. nigrum being widely utilized in traditional Saudi Arabian medicine. This study investigates the phytochemical and antioxidant potential of these plants, addressing a gap in existing literature. Two extraction solvents, hydro-methanolic (HME) and hydro-acetonic (HAE), were employed to evaluate total phenolic and flavonoid content, identify polyphenolic compounds using RP-HPLC, and analyze volatilized phytochemicals through GC-MS. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and ABTS assays, with Pearson correlation analysis demonstrating a positive relationship between phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Results indicate that HME extraction was more efficient, with S. nigrum exhibiting the highest phytochemical content. GC-MS analysis identified palmitic acid, alpha-tocopherol acetate, phenol, 4,4'-isopropylidenedi-, trimethylgallic acid methyl ester, and 3,9-dodecadiyne as predominant constituents, while RP-HPLC identified twelve phenolic compounds, with chloro-genic acid and rutin being the most abundant. HME extracts displayed superior antioxidant activity compared to HAE extracts, with S. nigrum demonstrating the highest potency. This study underscores the therapeutic potential of these Solanum species due to their rich phytochemical profiles and robust antioxidant capacity, highlighting their significance as natural sources of phenolic compounds for medicinal applications.

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