Phenolic contents, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibitory effects of crude extracts of Polycarpon polycarpoides Fiori subsp. catalaunicum O. Bolòs & Vigo

Abstract

The present work aimed to study some pharmacological effects of extracts of the aerial parts of Polycarpon polycarpoides Fiori subsp. catalaunicum O. Bolòs & Vigo (Caryophyllaceae) widely distributed in the Mediterranean basin. The crude extracts were prepared using four solvents (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol, and methanol: water 1 : 1, v/v), and then examined for their phenolic contents using spectrophotometric methods and for their in vitro antioxidant activity and ability to inhibit urease, acetylcholinesterase, and α-amylase. Low levels of total phenolic were recorded ranging from 14.39 ± 3.40 to 101.84 μg.GAE.mg^-1 of extract corresponding to the petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively. As for the flavonoids, very low values varying from 0.37 ± 0.13 to 4.22 ± 0.83 μg.GAE.mg^-1 of extract were obtained. A moderate antioxidant effect was exerted by the extracts most often the methanol and ethyl acetate extracts were the most potent probably due to their polyphenolic content. Remarkable inhibitory effect has been exhibited by the extracts against α-amylase and more specifically, the petroleum ether extract displayed the strongest capacity with a percentage inhibition of 48.19 ± 2.99 % at 400 µg.mL^-1. However, all extracts were inactive against urease and acetylcholinesterase. These results could constitute a starting point for carrying out more studies on the plant in order to assess the possibility of valuing it as a source of bioactive compounds.