Biological activities and phenolic content of endemic Helichrysum artvinense P.H. Davis et Kupicha (Asteraceae)

Species from the Asteraceae family have been extensively utilized in traditional medicine and as food sources for centuries. They also exhibit important biological activities attributed to their diverse array of phytochemical compounds. This research aimed to determine total phenolic and flavonoid contents of ethanol (EtOH) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of endemic Helichrysum artvinense and to reveal its antioxidant, antimicrobial enzyme inhibitory (α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and tyrosinase) and DNA protective activities. In addition, phenolic compound analyses were conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), establishing a correlation with the aforementioned biological activities. Based on the obtained data, the ethanol (EtOH) extract of the plant demonstrated greater prominence in terms of the screened biological activities. This extract was found to contain significant phenolic components, including epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, and luteolin. Consequently, it appears that the plant has the potential to serve as a natural alternative in both food and pharmacological applications. However, further studies to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the observed biological activities would be beneficial for the product development phase.