Analysis of phytochemicals and evaluation of potential health benefits of plantago anatolica tutel & R.R. mill plant

Within this study, Plantago anatolica Tutel & R.R. Mill plant which is an endemic medicinal plant species grown in Eastern Anatolia Region of our country and extensively used in the treatment of various disorders (diabetes and stoma ache) by local people was evaluated in terms of pharmacobotany and pharmacognosy. Phamacobotanic studies comprised of the morphological and anatomical comparison stage of P. anatolica, which was collected at flowering and fructification periods. Pharmacognosic studies consisted of the comprehensive evaluation of the stages of antioxidant capacity and enzyme inhibition activities and phytochemical composition of the lyophilized sequential (n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol and water, respectively), infusion, decoction and water extracts obtained from Plantago anatolica plant samples. Pharmacobotanic studies revealed that P. anatolica plant is differed in the presence of inulin spherocristalyses in roots, 11 veined scapus in crosscut, 7 mature and 2 less mature vascular structure in leafstalk and anomocytic and polocytic stoma in leaf inferior and upper surfaces as anatomically from the other Plantago species. In consequence of pharmacognosic studies, it was determined that the extracts obtained from P. anatolica plant samples were rich sources of phenolic (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, apigenin and kaempferol) and lipophilic (palmitic acid, linolenic acid and benzotiazole) compounds. Among the extracts rich of phenolic compounds dominated by caffeic acid, ethanol fraction and infusion extract showed pronounced high ORAC (1923 and 1010 µmol Trolox equivalent /g extract), FRAP (891 and 660 µmol Fe2+/g extract), DPPH (IC50: 0,87 and 0,34 mg/ml), ferric chelation (IC50: 0,09 mg/ml), mild levels of antiamylase (IC50: 4,31 and 5,32 mg/ml) and high antiglucosidase (IC50: 0,76 and 0,64 mg/ml) and antilipase (IC50: 0,07 and 0,04 mg/ml) activities. Plantago anatolica plant, which is different from other Plantago species pharmacobotanically, is a rich source of phenolic and lipophilic compounds, and ethanol fraction and infusion extract obtained from this plant might be used for in vivo studies as selected active extractions because of their high antioxidant and enzyme inhibition properties.