Phytochemical Analysis, Radical Scavenging Activity, and Molecular Docking Studies of <i>Heliotropium sibiricum</i> (L.) J.I.M.Melo

This study explores the phytochemical profile and molecular docking properties of Heliotropium sibiricum (L.) J.I.M.Melo, as detailed in Kew Bull. 77: 970 (2022). Antioxidant assays revealed strong radical scavenging activity (DPPH: 0.14 ± 0.02 μg/mL) and moderate iron chelation capacity (4.23 ± 0.99 mg/mL). The extract exhibited high phenolic (393.79 ± 30.14 μg/mL) and flavonoid (50.76 ± 1.40 μg/mL) contents. Enzymatic antioxidant assays showed notable activities: MDA (0.2141 ± 0.0047 μM), CAT (426 ± 14.73 U/mg), PO (8.366 ± 0.15 U/mg), SOD (53.13 ± 1.41 U/mg), and Mn-SOD (7.63 ± 0.31 U/mg). GC-MS analysis identified major compounds including pyrrolidine (15.08%), neophytadiene (9.40%), 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid (9.75%), and 2-pentadecanone, 6,10,14-trimethyl- (7.19%). Molecular docking revealed binding energies ranging from -3.4 to -5.2 kcal/mol, with 1,2-cyclohexanedimethanol showing the strongest interaction. These results demonstrate the plant's significant antioxidant potential and suggest that its bioactive constituents may serve as promising candidates for pharmacological development.