Phytochemical investigation on two alchemilla L. (rosaceae) species

The genus Alchemilla, belonging of Rosaceae family, comprises 82 species in Türkiye, 35 of which are endemic. Various species of the genus are extensively utilized by the public in Europe and Anatolia for the treatment of gynecological illnesses, menopausal issues, gastrointestinal ailments, eczema, wounds, boils, pruritus, and erythema. Research on the Alchemilla genus indicates that species are abundant in phenolic compounds, including tannins, proanthocyanidins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and triterpenes. Collagen, one of the main structural proteins of the skin, plays a role in skin elasticity; elastin, on the other hand, plays an active role in skin repair during injuries. Additionally, in injuries, cyclooxygenase activity increases, leading to the formation of an inflammatory response. In this designed study, methanol extracts (Alda herba, Alda root, Almin herba, Almin root) were prepared from the roots and aerial parts of Alchemilla daghestanica Juz. and Alchemilla minusculiflora Buser, which naturally grow in Turkey. The capacities of these extracts to inhibit cyclooxygenase 2 (at a concentration of 200 µg/mL; Alda root 91.89 ± 1.27%, Almin root 91.82 ± 0.56%, and positive standard diclofenac 73.87 ± 1.93% inhibition), elastase (Alda herba IC50 72.22 µg/mL, Almin root IC50 40.35 µg/mL, positive standard epigallocatechin gallate IC50 9.35 µg/mL), and collagenase enzymes were investigated. In the conducted activity studies, it was determined that the root extracts exhibited stronger biological activity; these extracts were found to be rich in catechin (Alda root 50.433 μg/g, Almin root 65.806 μg/g) and ellagic acid (Alda root 2.799 μg/g, Almin root 6.725 μg/g) compounds. The aerial components of Alchemilla species are commonly utilized in ethnobotanical applications. The research has shown that the root components has potential use in pharmacology.