HPLC ‐ DAD ‐ ESI ‐ MS / MS

ABSTRACT

The current study examined the phytochemical composition and biological activities of Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana , a medicinal plant that remains understudied in Morocco. The antioxidant and antihyperglycemic activities of hydroethanolic leaf extract and aqueous gum extract were assessed; the two extracts markedly differed in their polyphenolic compound, with the leaf extract showing higher levels of total phenols (40.381 ± 0.124 mg GAE/g DW), flavonoids (71.351 ± 0.233 mg RE/g DW), and tannins (3.211 ± 0.021 mg CE/g DW). In the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, this higher phenolic content was associated with stronger antioxidant activity (IC ₅₀  = 0.032 ± 0.002 mg/mL; IC ₅₀  = 0.177 ± 0.002 mg/mL; and 42.783 ± 0.301 mg TE/g DW, respectively), whereas the gum extract demonstrated lower antioxidant capacity. Additionally, a stronger antihyperglycemic potential was suggested by the higher α‐amylase inhibitory activity of the hydroethanolic leaf extract (IC ₅₀  = 0.379 ± 0.002 mg/mL) compared with the aqueous gum extract (IC ₅₀  = 0.461 ± 0.001 mg/mL). Several bioactive chemicals were found in both extracts by phytochemical analysis using HPLC‐DAD‐ESI‐MS/MS, which could be responsible for the biological activities that were observed. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of V. tortilis as a source of natural compounds with antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. Further investigations are required to better understand the mechanisms involved and to support its possible therapeutic applications in the management of hyperglycemia.