Phytochemical profile and antioxidant properties of invasive plants Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle and Helianthus tuberosus L. in Istria region, Croatia

Uzelac, Mirela (avtor), Poljuha, Danijela (avtor), Dudaš, Slavica (avtor), Bilić, Josipa (avtor), Šola, Ivana (avtor), Mikulič Petkovšek, Maja (avtor), Sladonja, Barbara (avtor)

Invasive alien plant species, while ecologically and economically problematic, represent an underutilized source of bioactive phytochemicals with promising phytopharmaceutical applications. This study investigates the LC-DAD-MS phenolic profiles of 70% ethanol and 80% methanol leaf and flower extracts of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle and Helianthus tuberosus L., collected in the Istria region of Croatia, alongside their antioxidant capacities using ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays. Both species exhibited high levels of flavonoids and phenolic acids, with consistently higher concentrations in leaf versus flower tissues and in ethanolic versus methanolic extracts. Strong correlations (r > 0.9) between total phenolics and antioxidant activity confirmed the functional significance of these compounds. With a targeted metabolomics approach, in A. altissima, 51 phenolics were identified in leaves and 47 in flowers, with ellagitannins predominating; vescalagin isomers reached 94 mg/g DW in leaves and 82 mg/g DW in flowers. H. tuberosus extracts contained 34 phenolics in leaves and 33 in flowers, with hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonols dominating; 5-caffeoylquinic acid was the principal compound (25 mg/g DW in leaves, 2 mg/g DW in flowers). The identified phytochemicals are known for their potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, and metabolic-regulating properties. Additionally, four leaf-specific compounds were identified in each species, indicating potential for targeted extraction. These findings advance the phytochemical characterization of invasive taxa and highlight their potential as sources of natural antioxidants for functional food and pharmaceutical development.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: fruit growing, tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, Jerusalem artichoke, Helianthus tuberosus L., invasive plants, ecology, phitopharmacy, bioactive phytochemicals, antioxidants, extracts, flavonoids, phenolic acids, food, Istria, Europe
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: BF - Biotehniška fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2025
• Št. strani: Str. 1-19
• Številčenje: Vol. 14, iss 6, art. 677
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-169922
• UDK: 634.1/.7
• ISSN pri članku: 2076-3921
• DOI: 10.3390/antiox14060677
• COBISS.SI-ID: 239326211
• Datum objave v RUL: 17.06.2025

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Antioxidants
• Založnik: MDPI
• ISSN: 2076-3921
• COBISS.SI-ID: 522976025

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: sadjarstvo, veliki pajesen, visoki pajesen, rajsko drevo, Ailanthus altissima, Helianthus tuberosus, topinambur, invazivne rastline, tujerodne rastline, ekologija, bioaktivne fitokemikalije, antioksidanti, ekstrakcija, flavonoidi, fenolne kisline, prehrana, Istra, Evropa

Projekti

• Financer: HRZZ - Croatian Science Foundation
• Številka projekta: IP-2020-02-6899
• Naslov: NATURe as an ALLY: Alien Invasive Plants as Phytopharmaceuticals
• Akronim: NATURALLY

• Financer: HRZZ - Croatian Science Foundation
• Številka projekta: DOK-2021-02-3094
• Naslov: Young Researchers’ Career Development Project–Training New Doctoral Students