Chemometric Profiling and Bioactivity of Verbena (<i>Aloysia</i> <i>citrodora</i>) Methanolic Extract from Four Localities in Tunisia

Abstract

This research aimed to study the chemical composition of Aloysia citrodora methanolic extract and its biological activities as an antioxidant, and its antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory activities based on four bioclimatic collection stages. The contents of total phenols, total flavonoids and total tannins were determined. Nine phenolic compounds were identified by LC-DAD–ESI-MS/MS. The major compound was acteoside, a phenylpropanoid which represented about 80% of the methanolic fraction in the various regions. The antioxidant activities of different locations were measured by different analytical assays, such as DPPH, ABTS and iron reducing power. The results showed that phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities varied with climatic and environmental factors. Moreover, there was a significant dependency between regions and biological activities. The use of a principal component analysis showed that there was a close relationship among phenylpropanoids, phenolic compounds and the studied biological activities.

Keywords

• <i>Aloysia</i> <i>citrodora</i>
• phenolic compounds
• antioxidant activity
• antibacterial activity
• antifungal activity
• anti-inflammatory activity