Qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds by UPLC-MS/MS and biological activities of Pholidota chinensis Lindl.

Pholidota chinensis Lindl. is commonly used as functional tea or folk medicine in China, but few studies have been conducted on its phenolic composition and bioactivities. This study was aimed to investigate the phenolic profiles of P. chinensis extracts by different solvents (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water) and their in vitro antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. The results showed that a total of 42 phenolic compounds were accurately identified, 30 of them were further quantified in P. chinensis extracts by UPLC-MS/MS. Among four extracts, ethyl acetate extract not only had the highest contents of total phenolics and 21 individual phenolic compounds, but also possessed the strongest antioxidant (DPPH, 1.43 mmol AAE/g; ABTS, 5.38 mmol TE/g; FRAP, 2.58 mmol FSHE/g), α-glucosidase inhibition (13.29 mmol ACAE/g) and anti-inflammation (IC50 = 18.71 μg/ml) activities. Also, the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities were significantly correlated with total phenolics and individual phenolic compounds. Orientin and vitexin can be considered as the potential quality markers of P. chinensis. This study will provide a comprehensive phenolic profile of P. chinensis and relates them to their antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities.