Phytochemical Investigation, Elemental Analysis, Antioxidant Activity, and Preparative TLC Fractionation of Flavonoid-Rich Extracts from Tordylium trachycarpum Collected in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Authors

• Venos Abdullah, Physiotherapy Department, Technical Health Medical College, Erbil Polytechnic University, 44001 Erbil, Kurdistan Region, IraqFollow
• Kamaran M. Amin, Department of Chemistry, College of Education, Salahaddin University-Erbil, 44002, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
• Hawraz M. Amin, Department of Chemistry, College of Education, Salahaddin University-Erbil, 44002, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

How to Cite This Article

Abdullah, Venos; Amin, Kamaran M.; and Amin, Hawraz M. (2026) "Phytochemical Investigation, Elemental Analysis, Antioxidant Activity, and Preparative TLC Fractionation of Flavonoid-Rich Extracts from Tordylium trachycarpum Collected in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq," Polytechnic Journal: Vol. 16: Iss. 2, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59341/2707-7799.1886

Document Type

Original Article

Abstract

The present study investigates the phytochemical composition, chromatographic characteristics, and total antioxidant capacity of the traditionally used medicinal plant T. trachycarpum Boiss. Qualitative phytochemical tests, elemental analysis, and total antioxidant capacity were performed on the flowering aerial parts of the plant for the ethyl acetate (TT1) and methanolic (TT2) extracts. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the methanolic extract (TT2) demonstrated the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, triterpenoids, tannins, coumarins, cardiac glycosides, and reduce sugars. To further identify the phytochemical composition, flavonoid glycosides in the TT2 extract were purified, separated, and processed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and medium-pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC). The elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) revealed the presence of sufficient amounts of iron, zinc, and manganese, as well as high concentrations of basic macroelements, especially potassium, calcium, phosphorus, Sulphur, and magnesium. The elemental protection profile of the facility is good, as no dangerous heavy elements such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury were detected or found in very low percentages. The phytochemical contents of the ethyl acetate extract were similar, except for the absence of reducing sugars and Coumarins. TLC profiling revealed different chromatographic bands representing phenolic and flavonoid chemicals. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was determined using total antioxidant capacity tests. The reference standard ascorbic acid had an IC₅₀ value of 0.877 µg /mL, whereas ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts had IC₅₀ values of 4.34 µg /mL and 3.51 µg/mL, respectively. The methanolic extract exhibited considerably higher antioxidant potential compared to the ethyl acetate extract. These findings indicate that T. trachycarpum is a promising natural source of bioactive compounds and provides a basis for future pharmacological investigations.

Receive Date

20 Jul 2026

Revise Date

19 Aug 2026

Accept Date

05 Sep 2026

Publication Date

2026