GC-MS and HPLC-HRMS Metabolite Profiling and Biological Activities of Blanchetia heterotricha Extracts

Blanchetia heterotricha is a species popularly used for its medicinal properties. However, few scientific records report the investigation of its chemical composition and biological activity. Herein, a metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis approach was used to assess the chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity of B. heterotricha essential oil (BHEO) and fixed extracts (nonvolatile). Thirty-six metabolites were identified in the essential oil by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), whereas 59 metabolites were identified in the fixed extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS). The essential oil and fixed extracts showed varying degrees of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The antioxidant activity varied from 7.27 ± 0.95 µg mL^-1 for the root methanolic extract to 513.25 ± 7.77 µg mL^-1 for the seed hexane extract. Extracts obtained with ethyl acetate showed the most promising antimicrobial activity, followed by extracts obtained with methanol and hexane. Multivariate statistical analysis allowed the identification of possible contributors to the observed activities within the extracts. This is the first study to assess the antimicrobial activity in any Blanchetia species. The combination of metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis was a powerful tool to identify bioactive compounds, highlighting the potential of BHEO and fixed extracts as sources of metabolites with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.