In vitro enzyme inhibitory properties, antioxidant activities, and phytochemical profile of Potentilla thuringiaca

The genus Potentilla is interesting in the pharmaceutical field due to its medicinal properties observed in ethnic medicine. In recent years, studies carried out to evaluate the biological activity of various Potentilla species showed a relatively wide spectrum of therapeutic properties. Particularly, in the present study, different extracts obtained from P. thuringiaca herb were analyzed for antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities. Additionally, spectrophotometric and LC-DAD-MS3 hyphenated techniques herein reported allow the identification of phytoconstituents. The analyses showed the presence of flavonoids and ellagitannins as major components. The data demonstrated that analyzed extracts revealed highest total antioxidant capacity in the phosphomolybdenum assay. The free radical scavenging activity of the extracts was evaluated by DPPH and ABTS assays. The reducing power activity of P. thuringiaca was also determined by FRAP and CUPRAC assays, as well as metal chelating activity. Furthermore, the extracts and the different fractions of P. thuringiaca demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against -amylase and -glucosidase, AChE, tyrosinase and lipase and no activity against BChE. In conclusion, P. thuringiaca could be a potential natural source of antioxidants and interesting inhibitory action against key enzymes, and can represent a valid food supplements.