Qualitative Analysis of the Chemical Composition of Cinnamomum tamala leaves and Biological Activity

Abstract

Cinnamomum tamala (Buch.-Ham.) Nees and Ebermaier. (Lauraceae) is a less explored medicinal plant in Uyghur medicine, with limited knowledge about its non-volatile compounds. We utilized chemical pre-screening in conjunction with UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS to analyze the phytochemical makeup of C. tamala leaves. Total polyphenols were measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, while total flavonoids were quantified through NaNO₂-Al (NO₃)₃ colorimetric analysis across four different commercial batches. In vitro assays for DPPH radical neutralization and nitrite elimination were additionally utilized to assess biological activity. Altogether, 153 substances were provisionally characterized, primarily including flavonoids, glycosides, phenolics, terpenoids, alkaloids, and carboxylic acids. The amounts of polyphenols and flavonoids varied significantly between batches, spanning from 5.00 to 14.28 mg/g for polyphenols and 44.41 to 71.57 mg/g for flavonoids. All samples demonstrated DPPH scavenging activity influenced by concentration and showed moderate nitrite elimination (56.91–62.55%). These results provide a foundation for understanding the chemical composition and biological activity of C. tamala, emphasizing the necessity of quality evaluation tailored to specific batches of this herbal material.