GC-FID and GC-MS profiling and in vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of Chenopodium ambrosioides L.

Chenopodium ambrosioides is widely used in traditional medicines to manage several health conditions. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of the n-hexane fraction and the in vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of C. ambrosioides L. The chemical composition was determined using Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. In vitro evaluations were assessed by evaluating the inhibitory potentials on the activities of α-glucosidase and antioxidants. A total of 58 phytochemicals were identified belonging to 11 classes of substances, of which aliphatic hydrocarbons (38.25%), diterpenes (20.54%), esters (16.33%), triterpenes (11.91%), diverse functional groups (3.74%), aromatic hydrocarbons (2.64%), sesquiterpenes (2.31%), alcohols (1.41%), ketones (0.29%), monoterpenes (0.16%), and fatty acids (0.14%). The major compounds were heptacosane (30.48%) (46), phytol (20.94) (35), and squalene (11.07%) (56). The methanol extract and its fractions showed moderate α-glucosidase activity, but their IC50 values were lower than the positive control 1-deoxynojirimycin. However, the methanol and methanol-water fractions exhibited more scavenging activity on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl with IC50 values similar to butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). The plant is rich in various phytoconstituents, and its α-glucosidase and antioxidant status may justify its use in traditional medicine, especially for preventing complications of diabetes.