Comparative Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Different Parts of Aspilia africana Extracted by Maceration and Soxhlet Methods

Aspilia africana is a popular medicinal plant mainly found in Africa, with a variety of ethnobotanical uses. The purpose of this research is to make a comparative assessment of the phytochemical content, antioxidant activity, and enzyme inhibition activity of different parts of A. africana prepared by two conventional methods. Leaves, flowers, and the bark of A. africana were subjected to maceration and Soxhlet extraction, and detailed chemical analysis of each of the extracts was carried out using HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were estimated using the following methods: DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, and MCA, while the enzyme inhibitor activity of the extracts was determined on AChE, tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase. Results from HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS indicated the existence of phenolics (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid), flavonoids (rutin, quercetin-3,4'-di-O-glucoside), coumarins (scopoletin-7-O-glucoside, esculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin)), and terpenes glycosides among the main active compounds of A. africana responsible for these activities. The highest antioxidant activities were obtained from the leaf extract obtained by Soxhlet extraction. Maceration extracts of flowers and leaves provide the maximum inhibition of tyrosinase (60.38±0.18 mg KAE/g). These results show A. africana as a promising source of antioxidant compounds with their potential applications in neurodegenerative disorders, managing diabetes, and cosmetic formulations.