Phytochemical evaluation via GC-MS and LC-MS/MS: a comprehensive study of antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and genotoxic activities of extracts from endemic species Centaurea amanicola Hub.-Mor. and C. antitauri Hayek (Asteraceae).

The study investigated the antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and genotoxic activities of extracts from Centaurea amanicola and C. antitauri (Asteraceae). Methanol extracts were analysed for phenolic and fatty oil contents. Major components of fatty oils were identified, including methyl hexadecanoate (48.30%) and heptacosane (22.13%) in C. antitauri , and methyl hexadecanoate (16.29%) and methyl linoleate (13.55%) in C. amanicola . The highest α-amylase inhibition was observed in hexane extracts of both species with 55.53% and 41.57% inhibition values, respectively. Antioxidant activity, measured by ABTS ^•+ and DPPH ^• scavenging, varied among extracts, with notable efficacy in C. antitauri dichloromethane extract and C. amanicola ethyl acetate extract. The dichloromethane extract of C. antitauri demonstrated effectiveness against Candida albicans with MIC= 156.25 µg/mL. Importantly, all extracts were found to be genotoxicity-safe. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of these extracts for various medicinal applications, particularly in managing diabetes and combating microbial infections.