A Characterization of Biological Activities and Bioactive Phenolics from the Non-Volatile Fraction of the Edible and Medicinal Halophyte Sea Fennel ( Crithmum maritimum L.).

Although the biochemical composition and biological properties of the volatile fraction of the halophyte sea fennel ( Crithmum maritimum L.) have been largely described, little is known about its polar constituents and bioactivities. Here, a hydromethanolic extract of Crithmum maritimum (L.) leaves was fractionated, and the fractions were evaluated in vitro for antioxidant (using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP bioassays), anti-inflammatory (inhibition of NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages), antidiabetic (alpha-glucosidase inhibition), neuroprotective (inhibition of acetylcholinesterase), and skin-protective (tyrosinase and melanogenesis inhibitions) activities. Polar fractions of the extract were rich in phenolics and, correlatively, displayed a strong antioxidant power. Moreover, fractions eluted with MeOH 20 and MeOH 80 exhibited a marked inhibition of alpha-glucosidase (IC 50 = 0.02 and 0.04 mg/mL, respectively), MeOH 60 fractions showed a strong capacity to reduce NO production in macrophages (IC 50 = 6.4 μg/mL), and MeOH 80 and MeOH 100 fractions had strong anti-tyrosinase activities (630 mgKAE/gDW). NMR analyses revealed the predominance of chlorogenic acid in MeOH 20 fractions, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid in MeOH 40 fractions, and 3- O -rutinoside, 3- O -glucoside, 3- O -galactoside, and 3- O -robinobioside derivatives of quercetin in MeOH 60 fractions. These compounds likely account for the strong antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of sea-fennel polar extract, respectively. Overall, our results make sea fennel a valuable source of medicinal or nutraceutical agents to prevent diabetes, inflammation processes, and oxidative damage.