Characterization of the Non-Volatile Fraction of the Edible and Medicinal Halophyte Sea Mayweed (Tripleurospermum maritimum L.)

Sea mayweed (Tripleurospermum maritimum L. syn. Matricaria maritima) is an edible species widely distributed along the Atlantic shoreline. Unlike other Tripleurospermum species, the chemical composition and biological activities of this halophyte have received little attention. Here, a hydroalcoholic extract of sea mayweed leaves was evaluated for in vitro antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP bioassays), anti-inflammatory (NO reduction in RAW 264.7 macrophages), anti-diabetic (alpha-glucosidase inhibition), neuroprotective (inhibition of acetylcholinesterase), and skin protective (tyrosinase, melanogenesis, elastase and collagenase inhibition) activities. Solid-liquid partition chromatography of the extract and NMR characterization of its fractions allowed the purification of some major compounds, including fructo-oligosaccharides in the MeOH20 fraction, a new carbohydrate called tripleurospermine (1) and 3-5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (2) in the MeOH40 fraction, and matricaria lactone (3) in the MeOH80 fraction. Both (1) and (2) compounds exhibited strong antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities, and (3) showed anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic potential. Overall, our results suggest that sea mayweed may have dietary or medicinal uses due to its bioactive substances.