Exploring the Pharmacological Potential of Onosma riedliana: Phenolic Compounds and Their Biological Activities

Onosma riedliana Binzet & Orcan, a traditionally used plant species, has been explored for its therapeutic potential in this study. The work presented here is the first report on the phenolic profile and biological activity of this species. Three extracts of varying polarity were prepared, with the methanolic extract containing the highest phenolic content (97.62 +/- 0.20 mgGAE/g). Key phenolic compounds identified included pinoresinol, hesperidin, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and p-coumaric acid. The methanolic extract exhibited exceptional antioxidant properties, rivaling Trolox as a positive control, primarily attributed to hesperidin and luteolin. Moreover, the ethyl acetate extract demonstrated remarkable inhibition of cholinesterase and tyrosinase enzymes, while the methanolic extract displayed potent activity against carbohydrate hydrolytic enzymes, alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. Again, phenolic compounds were shown to be responsible for the inhibition of cholinesterases and tyrosinase, but not for alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. These findings underscore Onosma riedliana's potential for incorporation into diverse pharmaceutical formulations, given its multifaceted bioactivity.

Automated summary

This study reports for the first time on the phenolic profile and biological activity of Onosma riedliana. The methanolic extract shows exceptional antioxidant properties, while the ethyl acetate extract demonstrates significant inhibition of cholinesterase and tyrosinase enzymes, and the methanolic extract displays potent activity against carbohydrate hydrolytic enzymes.