PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF DRYOPTERIS FILIX-MAS COLLECTED FROM BADAGRY, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Ferns are increasingly recognized as valuable sources of bioactive secondary metabolites with potential nutraceutical and pharmacological applications, yet information on how phenological stages influence their phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity remains limited. This study investigated the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of Dryopteris filix-mas collected from Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria, across six phenological stages: young fiddle head, mature fiddle head, mature vegetative frond, fertile frond, senesced frond, and root. The plant material was authenticated and extracted using aqueous, methanolic, and n-hexane solvents. Quantitative phytochemical analyses were conducted to determine major secondary metabolites, while gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was employed to characterize bioactive compounds. Antioxidant potential was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. The results revealed marked stage- and solvent-dependent variations in phytochemical composition, with methanolic extracts generally yielding higher concentrations of polar and moderately polar compounds, while n-hexane selectively extracted non-polar constituents. Mature vegetative and fertile fronds consistently exhibited stronger antioxidant activity, reflected by lower IC₅₀ values and higher reducing power, compared to other phenological stages. GC–MS profiling confirmed the presence of diverse fatty acids, esters, alcohols, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen-containing compounds, suggesting dynamic metabolic regulation during plant development. The findings demonstrate that phenological stage plays a critical role in determining the phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential of D. filix-mas, highlighting the importance of developmental stage selection in phytochemical and bioactivity studies of ferns and providing a basis for future bioactive compounds isolation and utilization.