Bioactive Phenolic Compounds from Thapsia garganica L. Different Parts: HPLC-DAD Profiling,Cholinesterase Inhibition, and Antioxidant Potential

This study investigates the biological properties of methanolic and petroleum ether (PE) extracts from the roots and flowers of Thapsia garganica L., providing new insights into its potential medicinal uses. Although T. garganica has a long history in traditional medicine, the anticholinesterase and tyrosinase-inhibiting activities of this species have been poorly documented and remain insufficiently explored in the scientific literature. The antioxidant activity was assessed using three complementary assays: DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS cation radical scavenging, and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity. Anticholinesterase activity was tested against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), key enzymes involved in Alzheimer’s disease, while tyrosinase inhibitory activity was measured using the L-DOPA method. The HPLC-DAD analysis revealed that the methanolic extract from the roots contained curcumin, epicatechin, and propyl gallate as principal components. The methanolic extract of the flowers was primarily dominated by rutin, chlorogenic acid, and luteolin. Meanwhile, the methanolic extract from the leaves contained rutin, chlorogenic acid, and hesperetin. The methanolic flower extract demonstrated high antioxidant activity in all tests. In contrast, the PE extract from the roots showed significant BChE inhibitory activity. This study suggests that T. garganica L. may offer potent natural compounds useful for the treatment of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.