Efficiency of Multiple Extraction Solvents on Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, and Phytotoxic Potential of Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg. from Poonch Valley, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

Abstract

Background. Different parts of Taraxacum officinale (L.) were used in traditional medicine in various parts of the world for the treatment of health problems, and they possess significant biological activities. The present study aimed to estimate phytochemical and biological activities of T. officinale using different extraction solvents. Methods. Methanolic, acetone, and n-hexane extracts of selected species were prepared, and ten secondary metabolites were examined using standard protocols. The antioxidant activity was performed using three in vitro methods, namely, DPPH assay, total reducing power (TRP) assay, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Toxicological analysis was done using the brine shrimp cytotoxic assay and radish seed phytotoxic assay. Results. The T. officinale methanolic extract showed the highest phenolic (178.27 ± 17.17 mg/GAE/g) and flavonoid (18.50 ± 1.64 mg QE/g) contents. Similarly, the methanolic extract also revealed the highest DPPH activity (32.80 ± 9.66 IC50), reducing potential (0.53 ± 0.02 mg/g), and TAC (19.42 ± 0.97 mg/g) as compared to the acetone and n-hexane extracts. The Pearson correlation analysis confirmed a strong positive correlation (r > 0.9) between total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and all antioxidant assays. Furthermore, a heat map displayed the methanolic extract (red color) as a valuable source of phytochemicals and antioxidant agents. Moreover, the T. officinale methanolic extract also showed the highest (7.12 ppm) cytotoxic potential whereas both methanolic and acetone extracts were revealed as moderate phytotoxic agents when compared with the standard. Conclusion. The T. officinale methanolic extract exhibited comparatively notable phytochemicals that are actively involved in antioxidant activities and possess toxicological properties. This upholds the folkloric use of T. officinale as a possible source to develop natural plant-based drugs. Further investigations to isolate bioactive compounds and elements and on their safety need to be conducted.

The Profile and Content of Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant and Anti-Glycation Properties of Root Extracts of Selected Medicinal Herbs

“…Previous studies demonstrated a TPC of 40.51 mg GAE/g for comfrey root [6], while angelica root and burdock root TPC values were similar to those demonstrated previously by the other authors [7,8]. The literature reported a higher TPC value for dandelion root (178.273 mg GAE/g) [9], while the lowest concentration of polyphenols for liquorice root (6.18 mg GAE/g) [10] and marshmallow root (4.53 mg GAE/g) [11]. The Egyptian ethanolic extract of liquorice was characterized by almost two times higher TPC value than in our study, while the water extract of this same herb had a comparable TPC [12].…”

Antidiabetic Properties of the Root Extracts of Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and Burdock (Arctium lappa)

“…The chosen solvent, ethyl alcohol, is one that people can readily use, avoiding options like acetone or methanol, which might produce better results in extraction yield [21,22] but are impractical and toxic for everyday use. Additionally, we opted for lyophilization as it represents the industrial processing method and provides better storage capabilities.…”

Phenolic Compound Profiles, Cytotoxic, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial Potentials and Molecular Docking Studies of Astragalus gymnolobus Methanolic Extracts

“…The relationship between the changes in the amounts of phytochemicals in the methanol extract of A. gymnolobus and the applied IC 50 doses of the extracts was examined by Pearson correlation analysis using GraphPad Prism 9 software. The heat map was prepared bidirectionally in order to observe the variability between the changes in the amounts of phytochemicals and the IC 50 doses [ 85 , 86 ].…”