Electrochemical and spectrophotometric assessment of antioxidant properties in Asphodelus tenuifolius cav. extracts

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the antioxidant potential of Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav. From El-Oued region of southeastern Algeria, through a combined spectrophotometric, electrochemical, and chromatographic approach. A hydroethanolic crude extract was fractionated using solvents of increasing polarity (chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol). HPLC profiling identified and quantified nine major phenolic compounds, with quercetin dominating the chloroform fraction at exceptionally high levels alongside significant amounts of chlorogenic acid and naringin. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using complementary assays. The chloroform fraction exhibited the highest total phenolic content and flavonoid content, correlating with its potent radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay. In contrast, electrochemical analysis revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction was most effective against the superoxide anion (O2•−), with the lowest IC50 value. Thermodynamic parameters further confirmed spontaneous and energetically favorable interactions between extract constituents and O2•− radicals, underscoring the mechanistic plausibility of the observed effects. To the best of our knowledge, this work delivers the first integrated electrochemical and chromatographic evidence of the antioxidant potential of A. tenuifolius extracts. By establishing clear correlations between phytochemical composition and functional outcomes, the study positions this species as a promising source of high-value bioactive compounds for several applications.