A Comparative Study of the Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibitory Properties of Phenolic Extracts Obtained From the Aerial Parts of Several Alyssum L. and Arabis L. Taxa

This study investigated the antioxidant capacity and enzyme inhibitory activities of different phenolics and phenolic acid extracts using n-hexane and methanol obtained from six taxa of Alyssum L. and Arabis L. The crude extract exhibited the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid (TF) contents, and powerful antioxidant capacities and enzyme inhibitory activities, the highest being observed in Arabis alpina subsp. alpina and Arabis ionocalyx. Soluble free, ester-, and glycoside-conjugated phenolic acid forms exhibited significant enzyme inhibitory activities, including α-amylase and α-glucosidase, being comparable to or exceeding those of standard synthetic inhibitors. The major phenolic acids in the taxa were sinapic acid, ferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid, and their concentrations varied notably in all forms, particularly at high levels in ester-conjugated forms in A. alpina subsp. alpina. These findings highlighted the significant bioactive potential of the phenolics/phenolic acids of Alyssum and Arabis species, as natural sources of antioxidants and enzyme inhibitory activities, with promising applications in pharmacological and therapeutic fields.