Phytochemical characterization and biological activities of a hydroethanolic extract from Algerian Picris hieracioides

Picris hieracioides L. is an edible medicinal species traditionally used in Algeria for the treatment of inflammatory disorders and wound healing, although its phytochemical composition and biological properties remain poorly documented. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile of a hydroethanolic extract of Algerian P. hieracioides and to evaluate its in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Qualitative phytochemical screening, determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were performed to characterize the extract, while antioxidant activity was assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays, and anti-inflammatory activity by inhibition of bovine serum albumin denaturation. The extract showed a relatively high extraction yield (17.69 ± 0.23%), together with elevated total phenolic (173.60 ± 0.20 mg gallic acid equivalents g⁻¹ extract) and flavonoid (25.75 ± 0.55 mg quercetin equivalents g⁻¹ extract) contents. HPLC analysis identified several phenolic acids and flavonoids, including gallic acid, caffeic acid, p -coumaric acid, catechin, quercetin, myricetin, apigenin, hesperidin and hesperetin. The extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity, particularly in the ABTS assay, and a concentration-dependent inhibition of bovine serum albumin denaturation, indicating promising in vitro anti-inflammatory potential. These findings provide the first comprehensive phytochemical characterization of Algerian P. hieracioides and support its traditional medicinal use, highlighting this species as a promising source of bioactive phenolic compounds for further pharmacological investigation.