Zengin_2019_J.Pharm.Biomed.Anal_174_406

Ethnobotanical evidences substantiate the use of several Centaurea species to treat and/or manage several human ailments. In the present study, the phytochemical profile of the ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous extracts (prepared by infusion and decoction) of Centaurea bornmuelleri Hausskn. aerial parts was established. The enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant properties were also determined by in vitro bioassays. Methanol extract (38.58mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract) and ethyl acetate extract (38.83mg rutin equivalent/g extract) possessed the highest concentration of phenolics and flavonoids, respectively. Aqueous extract prepared following traditional infusion method showed potent DPPH (38.54mg TE/g extract) and ABTS (57.75mg TE/g extract) scavenging abilities. The methanol extract (101.46mg TE/g extract) of C. bornmuelleri exhibited potent reducing activity in the CUPRAC assay while the aqueous extract obtained by infusion was more active in the FRAP assay (69.81mg TE/g extract). Ethyl acetate extract of C. bornmuelleri inhibited both acetylcholinesterase (1.14mg galantamine equivalent [GALAE]/g extract), butyrylcholinesterase (0.63mg GALAE/g extract), tyrosinase (69.84mg kojic acid equivalent/g extract), amylase (19.90mg acarbose equivalent [ACAE]/g extract), and glucosidase (33.12mg ACAE/g extract). The phytochemical profile of C. bornmuelleri has been characterized and the main components quantified in order to provide scientific base to design innovative products including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or nutraceuticals although further investigation concerning the isolation of the main bioactive compounds would be required.