Phytochemical characterization and bioactive potential of Daphne jejudoensis

Abstract

The bioactive potential of Jeju-Baek-Seohyang (JBS), scientifically known as Daphne jejudoensis M. Kim, was extensively investigated. The antioxidant activity of JBS was relatively lower compared to ascorbic acid in the DPPH and ABTS⁺ assays. Despite this, JBS exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells showing an IC₅₀ value of 187.0 µg mL⁻¹, which was relatively lower than that of the Centella asiatica sample (77.0 µg mL⁻¹). Furthermore, the JBS sample evaluated in the cytotoxicity assay showed more than 100% RAW 264.7 cell viability even at 250 ppm, a higher concentration than the C. asiatica sample. To characterize the phytochemicals responsible for these bioactivities, LC-ESI/MS and HPLC analyses were employed wherein daphnetin 7-O-glucoside (57.5 mg g⁻¹) and daphnetin (6.5 mg g⁻¹) were identified as the primary flavonoids in the extracts. This study contributes to the evaluation of the potential of JBS, a recently reclassified species that remains understudied, as a valuable medicinal and industrial substance. Further studies are proposed to fully characterize the medicinal properties of this plant.