Antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory potential of Tilia platyphyllos: An LC-MS/MS-guided phytochemical insight

This study focused on assessing the phenolic composition and biological activities of the ethanol extract of Tilia platyphyllos, including its anticholinesterase, antidiabetic, and antioxidant potential. LC-MS/MS analysis identified 14 phenolic compounds, with catechin as the major component. The total phenolic/flavonoid contents were determined as 48.07 µg GAE/mg and 88.46 µg QE/mg, respectively. The extract exhibited significant antioxidant capacity in DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays, with radical scavenging activities of 20.61 ± 1.52% for DPPH and 28.13 ± 1.61% for ABTS at 0.2 μg/mL. It also inhibited linoleic acid peroxidation by approximately 51%, exhibiting greater efficacy than the standart antioxidants Trolox and α-tocopherol. In terms of cholinesterase inhibition, the extract showed potent activity against AChE and BChE, with IC₅₀ values of 1.08 ± 0.02 µg/mL and 1.18 ± 0.08 µg/mL, respectively—markedly more effective than tacrine, which had IC50 values of 3.19 ± 0.11 µg/mL for AChE and 2.51 ± 0.03 µg/mL for BChE. For antidiabetic evaluation, α-glucosidase inhibition was observed with an IC50 of 0.44 ± 0.01 µg/mL, outperforming acarbose (3.24 ± 0.09 µg/mL). These findings suggest that the phenolic-rich extract of Tilia platyphyllos may possess notable antioxidant, neuroprotective, and antidiabetic activities, highlighting its potential as a functional food or natural therapeutic agent. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd