Phenolic and fatty acid profile and antioxidant activity of Fumaria agraria.

OBJECTIVES

Fumaria agraria is still poorly characterized, although the interest in plant-derived bioactive compounds is growing. This study aimed to investigate its phytochemical composition and its antioxidant potential.

METHODS

Sequential solvent extraction yielded n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol fractions. Fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and phenolic compounds in the polar fractions by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Antioxidant activity was assessed via DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, alongside total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) content.

RESULTS

GC-FID analysis identified five fatty acids dominated by unsaturated forms (76.51 %), with linoleic acid as the principal individual component (40.29 %). LC-MS/MS analysis revealed 11 phenolic compounds, with luteolin being the most abundant phenolic compound, accounting for 67 % of the total identified polyphenols. The polar extracts exhibited the highest TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity in all assays.

CONCLUSIONS

F. agraria is a valuable source of unsaturated fatty acids and flavonoids, particularly luteolin, which likely contribute to the antioxidant activity of its polar extracts. These findings support its traditional medicinal use and highlight its potential as a source of natural antioxidant compounds, although further in vivo studies are required to confirm these results.