The present study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition and the antioxidant potential of the crude extract and its various fractions which are n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol of the aerial part of Erodium guttatum (E. guttatum). Total flavonoid and phenolic content have been estimated using the trichloroaluminum colorimetric and Folin-Ciocalteu method. The phytochemical profile was investigated in various polar (ethyl acetate) and nonpolar (chloroform) fractions, using LC-MS/MS techniques. The antioxidant activities were also assessed using in vitro assay as the DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, SNP and Phenanthroline essays. The obtained results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction had the highest phenolic and flavonoid content (955.47± 8.15 µg GAE/mg and 185.90 ± 1.62 µg QE/mg), respectively. Moreover, LC-MS/MS analysis of the chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions revealed the presence of 16 and 14 compounds, respectively, the main compounds in the chloroform fraction being shikimic acid (13.708 mg/g), hesperidin (0.356 mg/g), isoquercitrin (0.282 mg/g). and in the ethyl acetate fraction, shikimic acid (3.989 mg/g), quercetin 3-xyloside (2.082 mg/g), and gallic acid (0.881 mg/g). The Antioxidant studies revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited significantly superior activity with IC50 of 2.37±0.02 µg/ml and 1.49±0.02µg/ml against DPPH and ABTS radicals, respectively. Additionally, the fraction showed A0.5 values of 2.98±0.07µg/ml, 3.62±0.15µg/ml, and 1.23±0.01 against FRAP, SNP and Phenanthroline, respectively. E. guttatum may serve as a promising resource for antioxidants, warranting further exploration of its potential in medicine or as a dietary supplement due to its components with potential pharmacological benefits.
Keywords: E. guttatum, crude, fractions; poly phenols, LC-MS-MS, Antioxidant activities.