Preliminary evaluation of mandrake (Mandragora officinarum L.) as a possible source of ingredients for nutraceuticals

Abstract

Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum L.), a member of the nightshade (Solanaceae) family, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean region. Mandragora has a long history of use, owing to its therapeutic and psychotropic properties. However, its wider use has declined due to the presence of tropane alkaloids, which can lead to poisoning. The number of publications concerning the chemical composition and bioactivities of M. officinarum is rather scarce. Many previously published works focused on alkaloids present in this plant. The objectives of this study were to fractionate several anatomical parts of the plant into lipophilic and higher polarity fractions, assess the antioxidant activity of dry materials and obtained extracts and to perform a preliminary composition screening of the extracts by using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. The highest yield of lipophilic extract was obtained from freeze-dried fruits by supercritical CO2 extraction. Pressurized liquid extraction was performed in a sequential manner using acetone, ethanol and H2O as solvents; the highest yields were collected from freeze dried fruits (Ac, EtOH) and leaves collected in May (H2O). The following in vitro assays were performed to evaluate the antioxidant properties of the extracts: TPC, ABTS•+, CUPRAC and ORAC. Comparing the solvents, ethanolic extracts exhibited the highest activity, while the extracts of the leaves demonstrated the highest antioxidant potential. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS screening revealed the presence of numerous constituents, while atropine was detected in all of the extracts. Therefore, further studies should be focused on the possibilities of obtaining bioactive preparations for nutraceuticals, which would be free from alkaloids.