Analysis of phytochemicals, antioxidants, and antimicrobial properties in non-polar extracts of Magnolia virginiana L. flowers from Saudi Arabia

Magnolia virginiana (M. virginiana) L., a native North American plant, is globally cultivated for shade and ornamental purposes, including in Saudi Arabia. This study analyzed the chemical diversity and biological activity of non-polar extracts (n-hexane and diethyl ether) from M. virginiana flowers. The major components identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis were aromatic and aliphatic esters, triterpenes, steroids, and phenolic acids. The total phenolic content (TPC) of n-hexane and diethyl ether extracts was determined to be 29.66 and 29.44 mGAE/g, respectively. The extracts showed strong antioxidant activity, with the diethyl ether extract having more reducing power than the n-hexane extract. The diethyl ether extract also showed greater Trolox equivalent values in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, but the n-hexane extract exhibited higher metal chelating activity (MCA) and free radical scavenging acti...