Mineral and Trace Element Quantification, Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities of <i>Gladiolus dalenii</i> van Geel Corms: Potential Applications in the Food and Pharmaceutical Industries

This study comprehensively evaluated the corms of <i>Gladiolus dalenii</i> van Geel (also known as <i>Gladiolus psittacinus</i> Hook), belonging to the family Iridaceae, to assess their phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, antimicrobial efficacy, and mineral profile. Qualitative phytochemical analysis identified bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and quinones, while spectrophotometric quantification revealed significant levels of total phenols (24.99 ± 0.85 mg GAE/g), tannins (53.63 ± 0.87 mg TAE/g), and alkaloids (116.7 ± 0.93 μg AAE/g). Antioxidant activity, assessed via multiple methods, showed promising IC₅₀ values: FRAP (IC₅₀ = 129.76 μg/mL), ABTS (IC₅₀ = 143.71 μg/mL), Ferrozine (IC₅₀ = 143.93 μg/mL), adapted FRP (IC₅₀ = 189.28 μg/mL), Folin-Ciocalteu’s (IC₅₀ = 317.99 μg/mL), and Phosphomolybdate (IC₅₀ = 128.48 μg/mL). Antimicrobial tests demonstrated activity against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, <i>Salmonella typhimurium</i>, and <i>Candida albicans</i>. The antifungal activity against <i>C. albicans</i> was particularly notable, with a 25.8 mm inhibition zone at 64 μg/disc, outperforming nystatin (28.48 mm) at higher doses (500 μg/disc). Mineral analysis via X- ray fluorescence spectrophotometry (XRF) revealed high chlorine levels (1390 μg/g), along with iodine (4.2 μg/g), nickel (4 μg/g), zinc (2.3 μg/g), and chromium (2.4 μg/g). These findings highlight the diverse bioactive potential of <i>G. dalenii</i> corms, demonstrating significant antioxidant, antimicrobial, and nutritional properties. This positions them as promising candidates for food and pharmaceutical applications. However, further research is needed to optimize their safety and therapeutic efficacy due to potential toxicity at high doses.