Phytochemical profiling, GC–MS characterization and comparative antioxidant potential of ethanol extracts from Euphorbia antiquorum and Opuntia ficus-indica

Abstract

The present study evaluated the qualitative phytochemical composition of bioactive molecules by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) profiles, and in-vitro antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts of Euphorbia antiquorum and Opuntia ficus-indica. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed that both plant extracts contained carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, proteins, and tannins were represented, whereas alkaloids, anthraquinones, steroids, and terpenoids were absent; saponins were detected exclusively in O. ficus-indica. GC–MS analysis were identified 20 compounds in each extract, with E. antiquorum dominated by 9-octadecenoic acid (Z)-, oxiranylmethyl ester (32.34%) and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (15.38%), while O. ficus-indica was characterized by β-sitosterol, TMS derivative (32.11%) and tetrapentacontane (27.77%). Antioxidant assays demonstrated concentration-dependent DPPH radical-scavenging and reducing-power activities for both plant extracts were determined. At 500 µg/mL, of O. ficus-indica exhibited marginally superior DPPH scavenging (79.1%) and reducing power (78.6) compared were also E. antiquorum (78.5% and 64.3% respectively), although both were less potent than the reference standard, ascorbic acid. These findings indicated that O. ficus-indica possesses a broader phytochemical profile and slightly enhanced antioxidant potential attributable to its higher sterol and long-chain hydrocarbon content, supporting its potential candidature as natural antioxidant activities for forthcoming generation.