Phytochemical analysis of methanolic, aqueous extracts, and essential oil composition of Alcea chrysantha (Malvaceae)

Alcea chrysantha (Malvaceae) is a medicinal plant with limited phytochemical characterization. This study aimed to provide the first profiling of its methanolic and aqueous extracts by determining total phenolic and flavonoid contents, evaluating antioxidant activity, and analyzing the essential oil composition. Methanolic and aqueous extracts were analyzed for total phenolic and flavonoid contents using standard spectrophotometric methods. Antioxidant activity was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The methanolic extract exhibited higher total phenolic and flavonoid contents than the aqueous extract. The methanolic extract also demonstrated stronger antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀ value of 712.3 ± 6.46 μg/mL. The FRAP assay revealed that the methanolic extract had higher reducing power in comparison with the aqueous extract. GC–MS analysis of the essential oil identified more than 30 compounds, predominantly aliphatic hydrocarbons (91.01%) and minor diterpenes (0.68%). Results showed that A. chrysantha is a medicinal plant with high phenolic and flavonoid contents, good antioxidant activity, and that it is a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and industrial sectors.