New insights into the phytochemical composition, enzyme inhibition and antioxidant properties of desert cotton (Aerva java']javanica (Bum.f) Shult. -Amaranthaceae)

This study sets out to probe into total bioactive contents, UHPLC-MS secondary metabolites profiling, antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, phosphomolybdenum and metal chelating) and enzyme inhibitory (acetylcholinesterase- AChE, butyrylcholinesterase- BChE, alpha-amylase, alpha glucosidase, and tyrosinase) activities of methanol extract of Aerva javanica, also known as desert cotton or Kapok bush. Aerva javanica contains considerable phenolic (44.79 +/- 3.12 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (28.86 +/- 0.12 mg QE/g) contents which tends to correlate with its significant antioxidant potential for ABTS, FRAP and CUPRAC assays with values of 101.41 +/- 1.18, 124.10 +/- 1.71 and 190.22 +/- 5.70 mg TE/g, respectively. The UHPLC-MS analysis identified the presence of 45 phytochemicals belonging to six major groups: phenolic, flavonoids, lignin, terpenes, glycoside and alkaloid. Moreover, the plant extract also showed potent inhibitory action against AChE (3.73 +/- 0.22 mg GALAE/g), BChE (3.31 +/- 0.19 mg GALAE/g) and tyrosinase (126.05 +/- 1.77 mg KAE/g). The observed results suggest A. javanica could be further explored as a natural source of bioactive compounds.