UPLC-ESI-MS/MS phytochemical profiling and in vitro assessment of key biological activities of Senecio massaicus extracts

Senecio massaicus (Asteraceae), a poorly investigated medicinal species growing in Algeria, The hydroalcoholic extract and fractions of the aerial parts was prepared and evaluated for its phytochemical profiling and in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities. The n-BuOH fraction showed the highest total phenolic, flavonoid and alkaloid contents. Both n-BuOH and EtOAc fractions displayed strong DPPH radical-scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.16–0.17 mg/mL), α-amylase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 4.26–11.64 mg/mL) compared to acarbose (IC50 = 0.17 mg/mL) and moderate protein-denaturation inhibition. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis identified L-proline as the major metabolite in EtOAc (63.66%) and n-BuOH (44.83%). The EtOAc fraction contained oleanolic acid, myricetin, luteolin and caffeic acid, whereas n-BuOH was enriched in myricetin (26.46%) and luteolin (9.95%), along with oleanolic acid, caffeic acid and apigenin. This is the first UPLC-ESI-MS/MS-based phytochemical profiling of S. massaicus, revealing L-proline as a major metabolite and supporting the plant’s antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory potential.