PLANT BIOSYSTEMS, vol.158, no.1, pp.119-129, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
The aerial parts of Helichrysum armenium subsp. armenium were subjected to methanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane extraction. The extracts were evaluated for their in vitro enzyme inhibitory activity (lipoxygenase, tyrosinase, and elastase), antioxidant activity, and toxicity (on fibroblast cells). All the extracts displayed a weak effect on lipoxygenase and elastase. The ethyl acetate extract showed the highest inhibition on tyrosinase enzyme with IC50=460 µg/mL, while kojic acid had IC50=30 µg/mL. The methanol and ethyl acetate extracts compared to the n-hexane extract exhibited stronger DPPH● and ABTS●+ scavenging activity, as well as iron (II)-chelating potential and were shown to have rich phenolic and flavonoid contents. The methanol extract was toxic to healthy fibroblast cells at a higher concentration with IC50>500 µg/mL compared to the other extracts. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts was made quantitatively by LC-MS/MS. The major components identified in the methanol and the ethyl acetate extracts were astragalin, quinic acid, apigenin-7-glycoside, isoquercitrin, chlorogenic acid, naringenin, apigenin and luteolin-7-glucoside. The compounds detected in the n-hexane extract were much fewer. Based on these findings, H. armenium subsp. armenium can be considered to be a natural raw material with the potential to be used in the cosmetic industry.