Flavonoids profiles, antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase inhibition activities of extract from Dryoathyrium boryanum (Willd.) Ching

The profiles and bioactivities of flavonoids extracted from Dryoathyrium boryanum (Willd.) Ching were investigated. The total flavonoids content in extract from D. boryanum is about 145.8 mg/g. By means of HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS, the main flavonoids in D. boryanum were tentatively identified as 3-hydroxyphloretin 6′-O-hexoside, quercetin-7-hexoside, apigenin7-O-glucoside, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, apigenin 7-O-galactoside, acacetin 7-O-(α-D-apio-furanosyl) (1 → 6)-β-d-glucoside, 3-hydroxy phloretin 6-O-hexoside, luteolin-6-C-glucoside. 0.21 mg/ml flavonoids extract from D. boryanum showed very strong superoxide anion radical scavenging potential, which is higher than that of rutin (0.25 mg/ml). The extract (0.21 mg/ml of flavonoids) from D. boryanum exhibited similar DPPH scavenging potential with that of rutin (0.25 mg/ml). However, rutin (0.25 mg/ml) showed a significantly higher reducing power and ABTS scavenging potential than that of 0.21 mg/ml flavonoids extract from D. boryanum. It had no effect on acetylcholinesterase. D. boryanum can be considered as a medicinal plant and the flavonoids from D. boryanum are excellent antioxidants.

Graphical abstractHPLC chromatograms at 254 nm and 280 nm of flavonoids extract from D. boryanum (Willd.) Ching.Download full-size imageHighlights► Characterization of flavonoids from Dryoathyrium boryanum. ► Evaluation of bioactivities of flavonoids from D. boryanum. ► Ferns with higher flavonoid content showed more anticancer activity.