Biochemical profile and antioxidant activity of Lagascea decipiens, a native Asteraceae plant

The Asteraceae family includes species used for food or medicinal remedies, one of which is Lagascea decipiens, which is native to the Sierra Madre Occident in Mexico. Because this plant has not been previously characterized, its biochemical components and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were quantified in its flowers, leaves and stems. The leaves are sources of ash (20.37 g/100 g dry weight) and the flowers of total lipids (7.32 g/100 g dry weight). According to their fatty acid profile, the leaves provide polyunsaturated fatty acids (63.25 %), the most abundant of which is alpha-linolenic acid. Leaves are the main source of essential amino acids (55.58 ± 0.05 mg/g dry weight) and α-tocopherol (201.96 ± 19.68 µg/g dry weight). The antioxidant activity against the radical DPPH was higher in the flowers (20.04 ± 0.04 µmol eq. of Trolox/g of extract dry weight) than in other parts. The aqueous or alcoholic extracts of the plant did not show activity against selected microorganisms. Due to their biochemical components and antioxidant activity, the leaves and flowers of the native plant L. decipiens have potential for use in the food and medicinal industries.