Organ-Specific Chemical Diversity and Biofunctional Potential of Ebenus laguroides subsp. laguroides: Linking Phenolic Composition with Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities

TL;DR

This study explores the chemical diversity and biofunctional properties of a gypsum-endemic legume, finding that different plant organs have distinct phenolic compounds with antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory effects.

Contribution

The study reveals organ-specific phenolic profiles and their correlation with antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities in a gypsum-adapted legume species.

Findings

Stems had the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents, strongly correlated with antioxidant activity.

Roots showed the strongest acetylcholinesterase inhibition, while stems exhibited the highest tyrosinase inhibition.

Phenolic content was found to be closely linked to antioxidant potential and enzyme modulation.

Abstract

Plants adapted to gypsum-rich habitats often display unique metabolic specializations. This study investigated the organ-specific chemical diversity and biofunctional potential of Ebenus laguroides subsp. laguroides, a gypsum-endemic legume from Central Anatolia. Methanolic extracts of flowers, leaves, stems, and roots were analyzed for phenolic composition by LC–ESI–MS/MS and evaluated for antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities. Twenty-one phenolics were identified, dominated by hesperidin, verbascoside, and (+)-catechin, particularly abundant in stems. Stems exhibited the highest total phenolic (82.60 mg GAEs/g) and flavonoid (45.79 mg QEs/g) contents, correlating strongly with antioxidant capacity across multiple assays (r > 0.95). Enzyme inhibition tests revealed moderate but consistent activities, with roots showing the strongest acetylcholinesterase inhibition and stems the highest tyrosinase inhibition. Correlation analyses confirmed strong links between phenolic content, antioxidant potential, and enzyme modulation. The results highlight distinct organ-dependent metabolite patterns and demonstrate that E. laguroides subsp. laguroides is a noteworthy source of multifunctional phenolics. These findings contribute to understanding the chemical biodiversity and bioactivity relationships within Fabaceae species adapted to gypsum soils and provide a foundation for further phytochemical and pharmacological exploration.

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