GC-MS based metabolite profiling and antioxidant activity of solvent extracts of Allium chinense G Don leaves

Abstract

Allium chinense, a main source of “Xiebai” drug in Chinese traditional medicine and commonly known as Ganoderma lucidum belongs to the family Amaryllidaceae. The main focus of this research was to quantify the secondary metabolites, antioxidant potential and study the GC- MS based metabolite profile of different solvent leaf extracts of A. chinense. The reports on the bioactive compounds of A. chinense leaves are still insufficient compared to the bulb; hence this study was carried out to understand the bioactive compounds present in A. chinense leaves using different solvents of varying polarity. Our investigation showed that the ethanol extract contained the highest saponin, flavonoid, phenol, and DPPH scavenging activity. Further, metabolite profiling revealed a total of forty-eight compounds, indicating a diverse range of phytochemicals present in the four extracts. The highest number of compounds were observed in ethanol extract (15) followed by chloroform extract (13), petroleum ether extract (11) and methanol extract (9). Some of the major compounds identified in the four solvents are octacosane (27.11%), heptadecane (19.66%), eicosane (18.51%), ethyl palmitate (18.50%), phytol (17.68%) and phytol acetate (17.30%). In conclusion, this study highlights that A. chinense leaf extracts contain high saponins, terpenes and alkanes which could be a potential source of a new beneficial drug.

Keywords

• Allium chinense
• bioactive compounds
• metabolite profile
• scavenging activity