A comparative study of secondary metabolites profiling and biological activity of Smyrnium olusatrum L. leaf, flower and fruit

Nat Prod Res. 2025 Jul;39(13):3806-3820. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2321484. Epub 2024 Feb 28.

Abstract

Essential oil (EO) composition of Smyrnium olusatrum was characterised by high proportion of furanosesquiterpenes (51.66-69.35%). The leaf methanolic extract composition was found to be rich with Quercetin-O-hexoside (39.78%). Apigenin 6,8-di-Chexoside represent the major component of flower (18.2%) and fruits (18.82%). Flower extract exhibited the highest contents of total phenolic (48.97 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (52.63 mg RE/g). The β-carotene and lycopene contents were in the order of 4.55-26.14 mg/100g, and 8.00-49.45 mg/100g, respectively. Methanolic extracts and EOs of different organs were found to possess antioxidant activities, as determined by scavenging effect, chelating activity and β-carotene-linoleic acid model system. Furthermore, Fruit S. olusatrum EO exhibited a potent inhibitory activity against Acetylcholinesterase, while the methanolic extract showed a weaker activity. The methanolic extract displayed inhibitory effects on α-amylase, whereas the EOs was not as efficient in inhibiting this enzyme. The observed level of biological activities varied depending on the specific extracts and organs studied.

Keywords: Furanosesquiterpenes; GC-ms; LC-ms; acetylcholinesterase; antioxydant activity; polyphenols; α-amylase.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Apiaceae* / chemistry
  • Carotenoids / analysis
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Flavonoids / analysis
  • Flavonoids / chemistry
  • Flowers* / chemistry
  • Fruit* / chemistry
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry
  • Phenols / analysis
  • Phenols / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts* / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts* / pharmacology
  • Plant Leaves* / chemistry
  • beta Carotene / analysis

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Plant Extracts
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Flavonoids
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Phenols
  • beta Carotene
  • Carotenoids