HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis of phenolic compounds for quality control of Grindelia robusta Nutt. and bioactivities

•Valorisation of Grindelia robusta herbal tea.•Characterisation of thirty new phenolics from G. robusta by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn.•Recovery of bioactive compounds from herbal tea and hydromethanolic extract.•Both extracts with stronger in vitro O2− scavenging activity than ascorbic acid.•Strong anti-MAO-A activity in non-toxic concentrations for SH-SY5Y cells.

The phenolic composition of herbal tea (HT) and hydromethanolic extract (HME) obtained from Grindelia robusta Nutt. was studied by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn. Thirty six flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids were detected, from which thirty are described for the first time in this species. Quantification by HPLC-DAD showed that diosmetin-7-O-glucuronide-3′-O-pentoside + apigenin-7-O-glucuronide-4′-O-pentoside, apigenin-7-O-glucuronide + diosmetin-7-O-glucuronide and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid + 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid were the major compounds.Since the health-promoting effects of natural phenolic compounds against brain disorders is of increasing interest, HT and HME were also tested against oxygen and nitrogen reactive species and against enzymes related with Alzheimer's disease and depression. Extracts displayed strong in vitro scavenging activity and monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) inhibitory activity. The anti-MAO-A capacity was observed at non-toxic concentrations for SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line, reinforcing the benefits of G. robusta HT. However, no protection against hydrogen peroxide treatment was observed.

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