A comprehensive characteristic of Anastatica hierochuntica

Anastatica hierochuntica (Brassicaceae) is a desert plant used globally to treat various diseases. To advance research on A. hierochuntica, we conducted studies on its morphology, anatomy, physicochemical parameters, and antioxidant properties. Morphological analysis revealed that the whole plant was light yellow with an irregular umbrella shape; the stem, roots, leaves, and fruits each have distinct structural features. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM) identified numerous vessels, including reticulate and spiral vessels, along with non-glandular hairs, phloem fibers, epidermal cells, starch grains, and wood fibers in A. hierochuntica powders. Microscopic characteristics aid in its identification. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) displayed characteristic peaks at 3337, 2929, 1659 cm⁻¹, indicating the presence of functional groups associated with flavonoids, lignans, polyphenols, and organic acids in the plant. Ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) further supported the FT-IR data, detecting components such as silybin, chlorogenic acid, and neochlorogenic acid. Additionally, the aqueous extract of A. hierochuntica had higher flavonoid content (8.32 ± 0.17 mg/g) and phenol content (52.58 ± 1.24 mg/g). Physicochemical parameters included moisture (5.09 ± 0.17%), total ash (5.95 ± 0.58%), and acid-insoluble ash (0.63 ± 0.06%). Antioxidant activity of different polar extracts was assessed using DPPH, ABTS, and reducing power assays. At a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL, both aqueous and ethanol extracts showed scavenging rates exceeding 80%. These findings provide a comprehensive characterization of A. hierochuntica, aiding in its authentication and identification.