Phytochemical and Antioxidant Characterization of Centaurea macrocephala Willd.: With Notes on Chemotaxonomic Relevance

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 3, 1196 - 1219, 15.09.2025

Nursen Aksu Kalmuk

https://doi.org/10.31466/kfbd.1641998

Abstract

Centaurea macrocephala Willd. (Asteraceae) is a perennial herbaceous plant that has been relatively understudied in terms of its phytochemical composition and chemotaxonomic classification. Various Centaurea species are widely recognized for their medicinal properties. However, the phenolic composition, antioxidant activity, and volatile profile of C. macrocephala remain largely unexplored. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the phytochemical profile and antioxidant properties of C. macrocephala, focusing on its flowers, leaves, and stems. The phenolic composition was determined using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), while antioxidant activity was assessed through Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and Copper Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC) assays. Additionally, volatile compounds were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry coupled with Solid-Phase Microextraction (GC-MS-SPME). The leaves showed the highest levels of total phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which may explain the stronger antioxidant responses observed in FRAP and CUPRAC results. HPLC analysis identified chlorogenic acid, rutin, and quercetin derivatives as the dominant phenolic compounds. GC-MS-SPME analysis revealed that the volatile composition of C. macrocephala is predominantly characterized by aldehydes and ketones, distinguishing it from other Centaurea species, which are typically rich in sesquiterpenes.

Keywords

Centaurea macrocephala , Chemotaxonomy , Antioxidant activity , HPLC , GC-MS-SPME

Ethical Statement

The author declares that this study complies with Research and Publication Ethics.

Supporting Institution

No financial support was received for this study.

Thanks

The author expresses sincere gratitude to Dr. Abidin GUMRUKCUOGLU for generously sharing his expertise in HPLC and GC-MS-SPME analyses, which significantly contributed to the successful completion of this study.

Centaurea macrocephala Willd.'in Fitokimyasal ve Antioksidan Karakterizasyonu: Kemotaksonomik Öneme Dair Notlarla

Abstract

Centaurea macrocephala Willd. (Asteraceae), fitokimyasal bileşimi ve kemotaksonomik sınıflandırması açısından nispeten az çalışılmış, çok yıllık otsu bir bitkidir. Çeşitli Centaurea türleri tıbbi özellikleriyle geniş ölçüde tanınmaktadır. Ancak C. macrocephala’nın fenolik bileşimi, antioksidan aktivitesi ve uçucu bileşen profili büyük ölçüde araştırılmamıştır. Bu çalışma, C. macrocephala'nın çiçek, yaprak ve gövde kısımlarına odaklanarak fitokimyasal profilini ve antioksidan özelliklerini kapsamlı bir şekilde değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Fenolik bileşim, Yüksek Performanslı Sıvı Kromatografi (HPLC) yöntemiyle belirlenirken, antioksidan aktivite ise Demir İyonu İndirgeme Antioksidan Gücü (FRAP) ve Bakır İyonu İndirgeme Kapasitesi (CUPRAC) analizleriyle ölçülmüştür. Ayrıca, uçucu bileşenler Katı Faz Mikroekstraksiyon ile Eşleştirilmiş Gaz Kromatografi-Kütle Spektrometrisi (GC-MS-SPME) yöntemi kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Yapraklar, toplam fenolik ve flavonoid bileşiklerin en yüksek düzeylerini göstermiştir; bu durum, FRAP ve CUPRAC sonuçlarında gözlemlenen daha güçlü antioksidan tepkileri açıklayabilir. HPLC analizi, klorojenik asit, rutin ve kuersetin türevlerinin baskın fenolik bileşikler olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. GC-MS-SPME analizi, C. macrocephala'nın uçucu bileşik profilinin esas olarak aldehitler ve ketonlarla karakterize edildiğini göstermiştir. Bu durum, tipik olarak sekiterpenler açısından zengin olan diğer Centaurea türlerinden farklılık göstermektedir.

Keywords

Centaurea macrocephala , Kemotaksonomi , Antioksidan aktivite , HPLC , GC-MS-SPME

Ethical Statement

Yazar, bu çalışmanın Araştırma ve Yayın Etiğine uygun olduğunu beyan eder

Supporting Institution

Bu çalışma için herhangi bir finansal destek alınmamıştır.

Thanks

Yazar, HPLC ve GC-MS-SPME analizlerindeki uzmanlığını cömertçe paylaşarak bu çalışmanın başarıyla tamamlanmasına önemli katkılarda bulunan Dr. Abidin GÜMRÜKÇÜOĞLU'na içten şükranlarını sunar.

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