Evaluation of Antioxidant, Anticholinesterase, and Antidiabetic Potential of Dry Leaves and Stems in Tamarix aphylla Growing Wild in Tunisia

Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst . has a wide geographic distribution and was employed in traditional medicine as astringent, anti‐rheumatic and to treat fever. T . aphylla leaves and stems extracts were studied from both chemical and biological points of view to assess the antidiabetic, anticholinesterase and antioxidant potential of this species. The HPLC/Diode Array Detector (DAD) analysis showed the presence of 14 phenolic compounds (gallic, caffeic, p ‐coumaric, ferulic and ellagic acids, kaempferol, quercetin, quercetin 3‐ O ‐galactoside and six flavonol derivatives). This is the first study reporting a comparative study of the biological activities of different extracts from T . aphylla . High activities were obtained against DPPH radical, superoxide anion radical ( O 2 ∙ − ) and nitric oxide radical ( • NO) in a concentration‐dependent manner, the most active extracts being the polar ones. T . aphylla also showed moderate protective effects against acetylcholinesterase, but no effects were observed against butyrylcholinesterase. Against α ‐glucosidase the MeOH extracts displayed IC 50 values from 8.41 to 24.81 μg/ml.