Metabolite profiling of the leaf extract reveals the antioxidant and nutraceuticals potential of the halophyte Salvadora persica

Abstract

This study comprises the total metabolite profiling and antioxidant potential of medicinally important halophyte Salvadora persica through analysis of the leaf extract by GC-MS and various antioxidant activity assays. The S. persica leaf contained a significant amount of mineral nutrients, soluble sugars, proteins, carotenoids, alkaloids and flavonoids. The antioxidant activity of the leaf extract was remarkably high with IC₅₀ values of 46.5, 8.4, 65.50 and 26.46 μg, respectively, for DPPH, ABTS, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging. This is the first report on the evaluation of the antioxidant activity and quantification of the biologically active metabolites conferring these activities in the leaf extract of S. persica. The highest antioxidative enzyme activity was recorded for superoxide dismutase. A total of 41 metabolites were identified by GC-MS, comprising fatty acids, carboxylic acids, organic acids, sugars, sugar alcohols, alkaloids and flavonoids. Previous studies suggest that the identified metabolites have potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor and anti-hyperglycemic properties. The present study identified dopamine, an important alkaloid, along with essential amino acids like leucine and valine. The quantitative estimation of the identified metabolites revealed glucose in the highest amount followed by fumaric acid. Our data suggest that the leaf extract have high antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties containing various metabolites of nutraceutical importance. The results were compared against similar medicinal plants which have been previously reported in the literature as sources of non-conventional food. Our data suggest that S. persica can be explored as a potential plant for nutraceutical, pharmacological and industrial uses.