Bio-Based Potential of Phenolic-Rich Fabaceae Seeds (Gonocytisus angulatus, Podocytisus caramanicus): Chemical Standardization, Functional Screening, and Molecular Insights

This study comparatively evaluated the phytochemical composition and bioactivities of methanolic extracts and aqueous decoctions obtained from seeds of two Fabaceae taxa (Gonocytisus angulatus, Podocytisus caramanicus). Aqueous decoction yielded higher extraction efficiencies (up to 39.20%), whereas methanolic extraction recovered a broader range of phenolic compounds. Phytochemical analysis revealed that flavonoids and phenolic acids were the dominant constituents, with chlorogenic acid, rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, and gallic acid as the major compounds, particularly enriched in methanolic extracts. In vitro assays demonstrated moderate enzyme inhibitory effects. The highest α-glucosidase inhibition was observed in the methanolic extract (20.22%), while α-amylase inhibition reached 30.11%. Anticholinesterase activity was also weak, with maximum acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition values of 15.27% and 19.93%, respectively. In contrast, antioxidant activity was more pronounced, with ABTS radical scavenging reaching 97.40%, comparable to the reference standard. Molecular docking supported these findings by indicating favorable binding interactions of major phenolic compounds with target enzymes. © 2026 The Author(s). Chemistry & Biodiversity published by Wiley-VHCA AG.