Metabolic profiling and biological activities of the aerial parts of Forssk. growing in Saudi Arabia.

The hydroalcoholic extract (MIT) of (Forssk.) growing in Saudi Arabia in addition to the chloroform (MIC) and -butanol (MIB) fractions were investigated for the first time using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The analysis revealed the tentative identification of fifty-eight compounds including three organic acids, twenty-five phenolic compounds, three coumarins, two anthocyanins, twenty-one flavonoids, three terpenes, and one miscellaneous. Moreover, the therapeutic potential of (MIT) and its fractions (MIC and MIB) were determined by evaluation of their cytotoxic, antioxidant, and anti-obesity characteristics. The MIT extract showed the highest phenolic (125.23 ± 0.87 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 gm extract) and flavonoid (112.24 ± 2.45 mg quercetin equivalent/100 gm extract) contents followed by -butanol and chloroform fractions. The MIT extract revealed a potent cytotoxic activity against HepG-2 (Hepatocellular carcinoma) and MCF-7 (Breast carcinoma) with IC 28.5 ± 2.0 and 35.2 ± 1.2 µgmL, respectively. Additionally, the tested hydroalcoholic extract exhibited a significant DPPH scavenging activity with SC 28.4 ± 1.2 µg/mL and a remarkable lipase inhibitory activity with IC 54.2 ± 1.2 µg/mL. In conclusion, the current study presents the first insights into the phytochemical constituents and pharmacological properties of extract and its chloroform and -butanol fractions. The results revealed that hydroalcoholic extract might be a prolific source of bioactive constituents with potent antioxidant, cytotoxic and anti-obesity potential. It might be a natural alternative therapy and nutritional strategy for obesity treatment.