Phytochemical, antioxidant, and functional group analyses of South African Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L.

•Phenolic content and antioxidant activities of South African E. alsinoides were described for the first time.•Functional groups present in the same species were also investigated for the first time.•The content of individual phenolics was positively correlated with antioxidant activity.•FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of several functional groups in the plant extracts.•Results indicate that E. alsinoides contains promising bioactive molecules, which justify its use in folkloric medicine.