Atraphaxis pyrifolia, a native medicinal plant of Central Asia, has a long history of traditional medicinal use; however, scientific research on its phytochemical and biological properties remains scarce. This paper aims to elucidate its chemical profile and assess its pharmacological potential through a comprehensive investigation of the phytochemical composition of stems and leaves using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), in conjunction with the assessment of its antioxidant (DPPH and ABTS) and cytotoxicity test on Artemia salina. Predominantly, glycosylated flavonoids were detected in stems and leaves extracts, notably including 8-Acetoxy-3′,4′,5,5′-tetrahydroxy-7-methoxy-3-α-L-rhamno-pyranosyloxyflavone, pyrifolin, and dehydroxypyrifolin. While the latter compound is exclusive to A. pyrifolia, the former compounds serve as shared chemical markers with other Atraphaxis species. The methanolic extracts of A. pyrifolia leaves exhibited significant antioxidant capacity without toxicity against Artemia salina. This study contributes to current research through providing valuable insights into the chemical diversity and potential medicinal properties of this plant species.

The Brassicaceae family, commonly referred to as cruciferous plants, is globally cultivated and consumed, with the Brassica genus being particularly renowned for its functional components. These vegetables are rich sources of nutrients and health-promoting phytochemicals, garnering increased attention in recent years. This study presents a comprehensive microscopic, chromatographic, and spectroscopic characterization of Brassica napus L. seeds from Kazakhstan aimed at elucidating their morphological features and chemical composition. Microscopic analysis revealed distinct localization of flavonoids, total lipids, and alkaloids. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis of seed extracts demonstrated a complex chemical profile with significant quantities of non-polar compounds in the hexane extracts. Additionally, methanolic extracts revealed the presence of diverse chemical compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and glucosinolates. The chemical composition exhibited varietal differences across different Brassica species, with B. napus L. seeds showing higher concentrations of bioactive compounds. Furthermore, liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QToF-MS) analysis provided insights into the chemical composition, with sinapine isomers, feruloyl, and sinapoyl choline derivatives as major compounds in the seeds. This study contributes to a better understanding of the chemical diversity and quality control methods’ approximations of B. napus L. seeds, highlighting their importance in functional food and nutraceutical applications.

Background: Fritillaria karelinii (Fisch. ex D. Don) belongs to the lily family (Liliaceae) and grows in Central Asia, Iran, Pakistan, and the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. The underground bulbs of this plant are traditionally used as both food and medicine, especially within the framework of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Although earlier studies reported promising antioxidant activity, comprehensive investigations combining morpho-anatomical, phytochemical [high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)], and biological analyses are lacking. This study addresses this gap by providing an integrative characterization of F. karelinii bulbs. Objectives: The present study aims at a comprehensive characterization of the bulbs of F. karelinii, including their morphological, anatomical, and chemical features. The chemical profile of the samples was studied using HPTLC and GC-MS. Additionally, the complete extract was analyzed for antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activity to assess its biological potential. Methods: Histochemical analysis was performed to localize alkaloids and other metabolites in the parenchyma cells of F. karelinii bulbs. To obtain a characteristic chromatographic profile and identify the main alkaloids, HPTLC was applied as a fingerprinting tool. The GC-MS was used primarily for profiling fatty acids and other volatile/semi-volatile compounds in the methanolic extract, while acknowledging that this method does not capture polar metabolites such as phenolics or flavonoids. The biological activity of the samples was evaluated through free radical scavenging (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), antimicrobial assays, and cytotoxicity testing. Results: Histochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids in the parenchyma cells of the bulbs, which also contained abundant starch granules. The HPTLC revealed a distinct fingerprint, highlighting the major alkaloids. The GC-MS profiling of the methanolic extract detected 16 fatty acids and other volatile components, with linoleic acid (40.86%) and palmitic acid (30.58%) as the dominant fatty acids, followed by linolenic acid (13.30%) and stearic acid (5.85%). The alkaloid-rich fraction contained 5α-cevan-3β,20-diol (19.65%) and fritillarin (18.86%) as prominent alkaloids. Their identification was confirmed by comparison with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library, which showed high similarity scores [match factor (MF) = 890, reverse match factor (RMF) = 905 for 5α-cevane-3β, 20-diol; MF = 875, RMF = 900 for fritillarin]. The crude extract showed no detectable DPPH scavenging, antimicrobial, or cytotoxic activities under the tested conditions. In contrast, it demonstrated moderate ferric reducing capacity (1.0578), though lower than the reference standard gallic acid (1.8705). Conclusions: The bulbs of F. karelinii were shown to contain diverse classes of secondary metabolites, as confirmed by histochemical analysis. The HPTLC and GC-MS profiling identified 5α-cevan-3β,20-diol and fritillarin as the predominant steroidal alkaloids, whose RMF and MF values confirm their structural reliability. However, under the tested experimental conditions, the methanolic extract did not exhibit significant antioxidant, antimicrobial, or cytotoxic activities. These findings indicate that while the species possesses a complex phytochemical profile, further investigations are required to clarify its pharmacological relevance. The present results highlight the need for more comprehensive studies, including the evaluation of other compound classes (e.g., phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids) and optimized experimental conditions, before firm conclusions regarding its medicinal potential and traditional uses can be drawn.