LC-MS/MS characterization, biological activity, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitory potential of five medicinal plant extracts from Romania and Türkiye

Natural carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors are gaining significant attention for their potential applications in diuretic, antiglaucoma, anti-obesity, and anticancer therapies. This study provides the first comparative evaluation of CA inhibitory potential, antioxidant activity, and LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry) phytochemical profiles of hydroalcoholic extracts from Satureja hortensis, Juniperus communis, Matricaria chamomilla, Hypericum perforatum, and Valeriana officinalis sourced from Romania and Türkiye. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to correlate secondary metabolites with observed biological activities. While S. hortensis and J. communis displayed consistent metabolic profiles across both countries, the other species exhibited geographic variation. Correlation analysis indicated that while specific phenolic acids (e.g., gallic, ferulic) supported antioxidant capacity, rosmarinic acid and luteolin were strong contributors to CA inhibition and diuretic potential. Notably, S. hortensis emerged as the most promising source; the Turkish sample demonstrated superior efficacy, attributed to high rosmarinic acid content (49.76 µg/mL) and substantial CA inhibition (64.87 µg acetazolamide equivalent/mL). The highest values of polyphenol and flavonoid content were found in H. perforatum from Türkiye, with 16.95 ± 0.221 and 9.77 ± 0.17, respectively. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of S. hortensis in managing CA-related disorders.