Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Activity, Phytochemical Diversity, and Toxicological Potential of <i>Tetradenia riparia</i> (Hochst.) Codd Leaves

Tetradenia riparia (Hochst.) Codd is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine. However, comprehensive studies integrating its chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and toxicological safety are still limited. This study aimed to characterize the phenolic content, antioxidant activity, phytochemical diversity, and toxicological potential of T. riparia. The plant material was lyophilized to obtain a homogeneous sample, which was directly used for proximate composition and fatty acid profile. Aqueous extracts prepared from the lyophilized material were employed for the determination of total phenolic content, antioxidant activity by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, toxicological evaluations, and phenolic profiling by HPLC-ESI-QqQ-MS/MS. The chemical analyses revealed a diverse phenolic composition, predominantly composed of phenolic acids and flavonoids, which was associated with relevant antioxidant capacity. Toxicological assessments using human fibroblasts (HFF-1) and genotoxicity assays indicated low toxicity at lower concentrations, supporting the safe use of the species under the evaluated conditions. Overall, these findings provide an integrated chemical and biological assessment, contributing novel data on the phytochemical composition and safety profile of T. riparia.