Chemical Composition of Hexane Extracts and the Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents of Ethanolic Extracts from the Flowers and Leaves of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench Growing in Al-Furonlq Forests, Syria

Abstract

Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench (Asteraceae), commonly known as Sandy Everlasting or Immortelle, is an aromatic perennial subshrub traditionally valued for its choleretic and dermatological properties.. The study aimed to identify the chemical composition of the plant's flowers and leaves collected from the Furnalq forests in Syria. The plant parts were collected during the flowering season (July 2024). The total phenol and flavonoid content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined using spectrophotometry in 70% alcoholic extracts using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and ammonium chloride, respectively. Additionally, the chemical composition of hexane extracts from both plant parts was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).The results revealed that flower ethanolic extracts contained significantly higher TPC (71.00 ± 0.41 mg GAE/g dry weight) and TFC (32.5 ± 0.33 mg QE/g dry weight) compared to leaf extracts (23.25 ± 0.80 mg GAE/g and 18.8 ± 0.47 mg QE/g, respectively). GC-MS analysis identified distinct the chemical compounds in the hexane extracts: the leaf extract was dominated by stearic acid (44.98%), nonacosane (18.42%), and methyl palmitate (12.65%), consistent with cuticular wax and fatty-acid derivatives, while the flower hexane extract was rich in tricosane (17.70%), nonacosane (11.98%), cyclohexanol (12.79%), and 2-hexenal (11.35%), reflecting a mixture of long-chain alkanes and volatile oxygenated compounds. These findings highlight the flowers as the primary reservoir of phenolic antioxidants in H. arenarium, whereas the leaves, available year-round, represent a valuable alternative source of bioactive compounds. This study provides a scientific basis for the traditional uses of this plant and supports its potential as a source of natural antioxidants and bioactive phytochemicals.