Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
(eISSN: 2229-4473)
Determination of bioactivity and phenolic compounds of Valeriana phu L
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Research Articles | Published: 10 August, 2026
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Keywords: n Valeriana phu L., Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Phenolic profile
Abstract
Valeriana phu L. is a medicinal plant with a long history of traditional use; however, its phytochemical composition and biological activities remain poorly characterized compared with other Valeriana species. The present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant system, antibacterial activity, and phenolic profile of methanolic leaf and rhizome extracts of V. phu. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) activity, antibacterial activity, and LC–MS/MS-based phenolic composition were evaluated. Rhizome extracts exhibited significantly higher antioxidant capacity than leaf extracts, with TAC values of 12.85 ± 0.08 mmol Trolox Eq L−1, CAT activity of 14 ± 0.22 U mL−1, and GSH levels of 6.52 ± 0.72 µg ml−1. The rhizome extract also showed stronger antibacterial activity, exhibiting the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 14580, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, and Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii ATCC 6633. LC–MS/MS analysis identified twenty-four phenolic compounds, with gallic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin, kaempferol, protocatechuic acid, fumaric acid, and luteolin among the major constituents. The organ-specific distribution of these phenolic compounds was associated with differences in antioxidant and antibacterial activities between leaves and rhizomes. Overall, the findings demonstrate that V. phu is an underexplored medicinal Valeriana species possessing considerable antioxidant, antibacterial, and phenolic characteristics. Further phytochemical investigations, toxicity assessment, and in vivo studies are required to fully evaluate its therapeutic and nutraceutical potential.
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Author Information
Ardahan University, Postgraduate Research Institute, Ardahan, Türkiye