Calendula arvensis L. extracts: GC-MS and HPLC-DAD quantification of the main phenolic components and their pharmacological potential

The aim of the current research was to examine and quantify the chemical composition of the chloroform extract of Calendula arvensis, as well as investigate the pharmacologicala ctivities of two different extracts using enzymatic, chemical and chromatographic methods. The plant was preserved after being dried, while HPLC and GCMS chromatographic techniques were used for quantitative analyses of the chloroform extract. Both extracts (chloroform and n-butanol) were examined for their total phenol and flavonoid contents. GC-MS analysis of the chloroform extract revealed the presence of 77 compounds; germanicol (10.25%), arachidonicacid (8.17%), hexadecanoicacid (6.94%), 17-octadecynoic acid (5.99%), syringicacid (5.22%) and p-coumaricacid (3.04%) were found to be the major constituents. Syringic and p-coumaricacids were confirmed and quantified by HPLC-DAD analysis of chloroform extract. Both extracts had a high concentration of polyphenols and demonstrated moderate antioxidant activity using five methods (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC reducing power and ?-carotene). The chloroform extract presented an interesting inhibition against butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) with an IC50= 69.06 ± 1.33 µg/mL, near that exerted by galantamine. These results indicated that C. arvensis extracts might be used as a promising natural alternative source of antioxidant and anti-Alzheimer molecules.