Phytochemical profiling and pharmacological evaluation of Helianthemum pilosum L.
Abstract
Helianthemum pilosum L. (Cistaceae), traditionally used in the Algerian Sahara to treat gastrointestinal disorders, remains insufficiently characterized regarding its phytochemical composition and pharmacological properties. This study investigated the phytochemical profile, LC–MS/MS metabolite composition, and in vitro and in vivo biological activities of sequential solvent extracts from its aerial parts. Sequential fractionation of the hydromethanolic extract using dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol yielded fractions with distinct phytochemical profiles. The hydromethanolic extract (HPM) exhibited the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents (165.88 mg GAE/g and 149.6 mg QE/g, respectively), and the n-butanolic extract (HPB) showed the strongest DPPH radical-scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 0.024 µg/mL). The antibacterial activity was moderate, particularly against E. coli, K. oxytoca, and K. enterobacter. Acute toxicity testing showed that H. pilosum extracts were non-toxic at 2000 mg/kg body weight. In vivo assays demonstrated significant analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, and wound-healing activities. LC-MS/MS analysis identified 16 bioactive metabolites, with Shikimic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, quercetin-3-D-xyloside, quercetin, kaempferol-3-glucoside, trans-ferulic acid, vanillin, and p-coumaric acid as the major constituents. These findings validate the traditional use of H. pilosum and highlight its potential as a source of bioactive phenolic compounds for future pharmacological investigations. KEY WORDS: Helianthemum pilosum L., Phytochemical study, Medicinal plant, Flavonoids, Biological activities Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2026, 40(12), 2609-2627. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v40i12.8