Integrated analysis of nutritional composition, phytochemical, and antioxidant activity in Cotoneaster microphyllus (Wall. ex Lindl.)

The growing interest in plant-based therapeutics has led to increased exploration of medicinal flora for their nutritional and pharmacological potential. The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional composition, phytochemical profile, and antioxidant activity of Cotoneaster microphyllus from Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. The proximate analysis revealed high levels of ash and fat in the leaves, while high fiber levels in the fruits. According to mineral profiling, leaves showed an abundance of Mg, Ca, Na, and Zn, while fruits indicated predominant presence of P and K. Phytochemical extractions were performed using hydromethanol, methanol, and aqueous solvents, with hydromethanol extract exhibiting the highest phytochemical content and antioxidant activity, followed by methanol and aqueous extracts. DPPH and FRAP antioxidant assays confirmed that C. microphyllus scavenges free radicals and reducing antioxidant potential effectively. Based on GC-MS and LC-MS analyses, cyclosiloxanes and phthalate ester compounds were identified via GC-MS and 50 unique compounds were identified via LC-MS, reported for the first time in Cotoneaster. UHPLC was also used to quantify chlorogenic acid, with fruit extracts showing the highest concentration. In this study, we provide a novel insight into the phytochemical composition and bioactive potential of C. microphyllus. There is a significant lack of systematic biochemical and functional evaluation of this species, so this study represents the first comprehensive integration of nutrition profiling, multi-solvent phytochemical quantification, and advanced characterization (GC-MS, LC-MS, and UHPLC) of different plant parts. These findings provide new insight into phytochemical composition of C. microphyllus and point to its potential as a source of bioactive chemicals with potential pharmacological and nutraceutical applications, which need for more biological validation.