Antioxidant, anti-diabetic activity and chemical composition of n-hexane extract of artichoke flowers (Cynara scolymus L.)

Abstract

This study investigated the chemical composition and antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of the n-hexane extract of artichoke flowers (Cynara scolymus L.). The GC-MS analysis of the extract identified 17 compounds belonging to different groups, including hydrocarbons, esters, alcohols and polyols, heterocyclic compounds, silicon-containing compounds, and carboxylic acids. Among these groups, carboxylic acids and esters accounted for the majority, including n-hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, oleic acid, elaidic acid, palmitic acid, linolelaidic acid methyl ester, 9-octadecenoic acid, and linoleic acid methyl ester. In vitro bioassays show that the artichoke extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀ of 43.8 ± 1.75 µg/mL by using the DPPH scavenging method and 45.2 ± 2.01 µg/mL with the ABTS method. In addition, the artichoke extract exhibited significant anti-diabetic activity with an IC₅₀ of 696.7 ± 13.63 µg/mL through the ability to inhibit α-amylase and 643.2 ± 9.45 µg/mL through the ability to inhibit α-glucosidase. These findings indicate the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of artichoke flower extracts under in vitro conditions. Further studies are required to isolate and identify the key active constituents, elucidate their mechanisms of action, and evaluate their safety and efficacy in vivo to determine their biological relevance and potential for future applications.