Evaluation of Biochemical Parameters and Mineral Content in Aqueous Extract of Centaurea solstitialis L. subsp. solstitialis Leaves

This study aimed to evaluate the biochemical profile of an aqueous extract prepared from the leaves of Centaurea solstitialis L. subsp. solstitialis (C. solstitialis) using fully automated clinical analyzers and to provide preliminary data on its biochemical composition. Plant samples were obtained from a local market in Şanlıurfa, Türkiye. After shade-drying, the leaves were powdered, and 40 g of plant material was extracted with 400 mL of distilled water at room temperature for 24 h using maceration. The extract was filtered through gauze and centrifuged at 4,000 rpm for 12 min, and the resulting supernatant was analyzed. Glucose, total protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, cholesterol, triglycerides, and uric acid were measured using a Roche Hitachi Cobas c503 analyzer, while vitamin B12, folic acid, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were determined using a Roche Hitachi Cobas e801 analyzer. All measurements were performed in triplicate. The mean concentrations of glucose, calcium, and phosphorus were 46.93 ± 0.15 mg/dL, 34.60 ± 0.10 mg/dL, and 39.93 ± 0.32 mg/dL, respectively. Iron, total protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, and uric acid were 27.07 ± 0.81 µg/dL, 3.69 ± 0.09 g/L, 7.01 ± 0.24 mg/dL, 38.33 ± 0.51 mg/dL, and 0.146 ± 0.006 mg/dL, respectively. Vitamin B12, folic acid, magnesium, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D showed identical values across technical replicates. Overall, the aqueous leaf extract contained measurable levels of several biochemical parameters. These findings provide preliminary biochemical data for C. solstitialis and support the potential use of automated clinical analyzers for rapid preliminary screening of plant extracts.