Phytochemical Profiling of Silver Cockscomb ( <i>Celosia argentea</i> L.) using Spectroscopic Techniques and Antioxidant Activity Determination

Celosia argentea (Amaranthaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat various disorders, such as urinary disorders, jaundice, diabetes, fever, antidote for snake poison, mouth sores, and eyesight improvement. Based on its ethnomedicinal significance, the present research focuses on the phytochemical characterization and antioxidant activity assessment of different parts (leaf, stem, and inflorescence) of C. argentea. Extracts were prepared using the Soxhlet extraction in solvents with distinct polarity (methanol, chloroform, and water). Phytochemical characterization was performed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Preliminary phytochemical analysis depicted that the methanolic inflorescence (MI) extract possesses maximum phytochemicals (flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides, etc.). FTIR spectral data confirmed the presence of phenols, alcohols, carboxylic acids, and thiol compounds. GC-MS analysis identified key bioactive compounds, including Heneicosane, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester, methyl stearate, Ginsenol, oleic acid methyl ester, Linoleic acid methyl ester, squalene, etc. The antioxidant potential was estimated using in vitro assays, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) assays. The maximum radical scavenging activity was reported in MI extract, that is, 92.33% ± 0.41 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC₅₀]-0.338 mg/mL), 70.3% ± 0.58 (IC₅₀-0.338 mg/mL), and 60.38% ± 0.56 (IC₅₀-0.338 mg/mL) for DPPH, ABTS, and H₂O_2, respectively. These findings suggest C. argentea as a promising source of natural antioxidants for managing oxidative stress-related disorders.