Phytochemical profiling, in vitro evaluation of total phenolic contents and antioxidant properties of Marrubium vulgare (horehound) leaves of plants growing in Algeria

•UHPLC–MS/MS based profiling of M. vulgare leaves has revealed the presence of 34 compounds.•17 New compounds are being tentatively proposed for the first time in M. vulgare.•Flavonoids and phenylethanoid derivatives were the main compounds in M. vulgare.•The ability of the methanol extract to scavenge H2O2 was considerable (59.73%).•Total antioxidant capacity of the methanol extract was higher than that of acetone.

The leaves of horehound (Marrubium vulgare), were screened for their phytochemical composition by the use of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) together with the determination of antioxidant capacity of the methanol and acetone extracts. Total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents were also determined by colorimetry. The antioxidant potential was assessed by DPPH• (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, the scavenging activity against H2O2, total antioxidant capacity, and iron-reducing power. The UHPLC–MS/MS method of the methanolic extract revealed the presence of 34 compounds of different families, of which 17 compounds have been tentatively characterized for the first time. Flavonoids and phenylethanoid derivatives were the major compounds. Methanol extract contained more flavonoids and tannins, and the percentage of DPPH radical scavenging activity ranged from 51.90 to 97.15%. The ability of the methanol extract to scavenge H2O2 was considerable (59.73%). Total antioxidant capacity exhibited by methanol leaf extract was higher than that of acetone and in the ferric reducing power the absorbance augmented with increasing extract concentrations. The best overall antioxidant capacity was shown by the methanol leaf extract, indicating its use as a promising source of natural antioxidants for food preservation and prevention of oxidative-stress-related diseases.

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