Research Article
Efficiency of Multiple Extraction Solvents on Antioxidant,
Cytotoxic, and Phytotoxic Potential of Taraxacum officinale (L.)
Weber ex F.H. Wigg. from Poonch Valley, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan
Wasim Akhtar ,
1
Ghazanfar Ali ,
2
Nadia Ashraf,
2
Iram Fatima ,
3
Waqas Khan Kayani,
4
Hamayun Shaheen ,
1
Mohammed M. Ghoneim,
5,6
Mohamed A. Abdelgawad,
7
and Ahmed Khames
8
1
Department of Botany, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Muzaffarabad, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan
2
Department of Biotechnology, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Muzaffarabad, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan
3
Department of Biotechnology, Fatima Jinnah Women University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
4
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kotli, Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
5
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, AlMaarefa University, Ad Diriyah 13713, Saudi Arabia
6
Pharmacognosy and Medicinal Plants Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
7
Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099,
Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
8
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Al Jouf 72341, Saudi Arabia
Correspondence should be addressed to Ghazanfar Ali; ali.phd.qau@gmail.com
Received 19 January 2022; Revised 23 March 2022; Accepted 16 April 2022; Published 24 May 2022
Academic Editor: Ihsan Ul Haq
Copyright © 2022 Wasim Akhtar et al. is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Background. Different parts of Taraxacum officinale (L.) were used in traditional medicine in various parts of the world for the
treatment of health problems, and they possess significant biological activities. e present study aimed to estimate phytochemical
and biological activities of T. officinale using different extraction solvents. Methods. Methanolic, acetone, and n-hexane extracts of
selected species were prepared, and ten secondary metabolites were examined using standard protocols. e antioxidant activity
was performed using three in vitro methods, namely, DPPH assay, total reducing power (TRP) assay, and total antioxidant
capacity (TAC). Toxicological analysis was done using the brine shrimp cytotoxic assay and radish seed phytotoxic assay. Results.
e T. officinale methanolic extract showed the highest phenolic (178.27 ± 17.17 mg/GAE/g) and flavonoid (18.50 ± 1.64 mg QE/g)
contents. Similarly, the methanolic extract also revealed the highest DPPH activity (32.80 ± 9.66 IC
50
), reducing potential
(0.53 ± 0.02 mg/g), and TAC (19.42 ± 0.97 mg/g) as compared to the acetone and n-hexane extracts. e Pearson correlation
analysis confirmed a strong positive correlation (r > 0.9) between total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and
all antioxidant assays. Furthermore, a heat map displayed the methanolic extract (red color) as a valuable source of phytochemicals
and antioxidant agents. Moreover, the T. officinale methanolic extract also showed the highest (7.12 ppm) cytotoxic potential
whereas both methanolic and acetone extracts were revealed as moderate phytotoxic agents when compared with the standard.
Conclusion. e T. officinale methanolic extract exhibited comparatively notable phytochemicals that are actively involved in
antioxidant activities and possess toxicological properties. is upholds the folkloric use of T. officinale as a possible source to
develop natural plant-based drugs. Further investigations to isolate bioactive compounds and elements and on their safety need to
be conducted.
Hindawi
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Volume 2022, Article ID 5118553, 9 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5118553