Comparative Analysis of <i>Lespedeza</i> Species: Traditional Uses and Biological Activity of the <i>Fabaceae</i> Family

Abstract: With around 40 species spread throughout temperate and subtropical environments, mostly in East Asia and North America, the genus Lespedeza (L.) (Fabaceae) include Particularly in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antidiabetic uses, L. species show notable pharmacological promise due in great part to their high polyphenolic content. The polyphenolic profiles and bioactivities of L. capitata, L. cuneata, and L. bicolor are investigated in this work with an eye on extraction efficiency, total polyphenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant capacity. Corresponding with its higher DPPH radical scavenging IC50 (35.4 &micro;g/mL) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of 912.3 &micro;mol Fe2+/g, L. bicolor showed the greatest TPC (190.4 mg GAE/g) and TFC (109.2 mg QE/g). While L. bicolor exhibited strong neuroprotective and anticancer activity, L. cuneata showed strong &alpha;-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 28.1 &micro;g/mL). L. capitata is nevertheless a great source of bioactive molecules even with its modest bioactivity. The results highlight the possibilities of L. species in nutraceutical and medicinal uses, therefore justifying further study on their bioavailability and molecular processes.