Phytochemical Profiling and Bioactivity Evaluation of Butanol Spartium junceum Flower Extract: GC-MS Characterization, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antibiofilm, and Anti-Obesity Potential with Public Health Implications

Abstract

The phytochemical composition and biological activities of Spartium junceum flower extracts were studied after fractionation using solvents of increasing polarity. Among the tested fractions, the butanol extract exhibited the highest levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols, and tannins, suggesting enrichment in polar bioactive metabolites. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis revealed that the major constituents were mainly fatty acids and unsaturated lipid derivatives, including n-hexadecanoic acid, linoelaidic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid methyl ester. The butanol fraction demonstrated significant cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 breast and PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 96 and 89.8 µg/mL, respectively, while showing lower toxicity toward normal WI-38 cells. Moderate antioxidant activity was confirmed using (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate), (2,2 (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and total antioxidant capacity assays, with the strongest scavenging effect observed in the ABTS method. Additionally, the extract showed pancreatic lipase inhibitory potential (IC₅₀ = 79.6 µg/mL) and concentration-dependent antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These findings support S. junceum flowers as a promising source of multifunctional natural therapeutics.