Abstract
Arid and semi-arid ecosystems harbor a wealth of underexplored plant biodiversity with untapped ecological and pharmacological potential. This study integrates morphological and molecular barcoding (ITS and rbcL) to confirm the identity of eight wild plant species native to the Saudi Arabian desert: Calligonum crinitum, Tribulus terrestris, Cornulaca monacantha, Cleome pallida, Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Cyperus conglomeratus, Indigofera argentea, and Artemisia monosperma. High-resolution GC–MS analysis identified over 25 bioactive compounds across these taxa, grouped into functional classes including hydrocarbons, esters, fatty acids, quinones, terpenoids, and phenolics. Notable compounds such as n-hexadecanoic acid, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, lupeol, and D-limonene were linked to antioxidant activity, desiccation tolerance, and membrane protection under stress. L. pyrotechnica and A. monosperma emerged as chemical outliers with unique metabolite profiles, suggesting divergent strategies for climate resilience. Our results highlight the ecological and bioeconomic value of desert flora, positioning them as candidates for future research in metabolic engineering, dryland restoration, and plant-based pharmaceuticals. This integrative approach underscores the relevance of desert plants for sustainable development in the face of climate change.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Morphological and molecular barcoding confirmed the identity of eight wild plant species.
Verbatim
e1“This study integrates morphological and molecular barcoding (ITS and rbcL) to confirm the identity of eight wild plant species native to the Saudi Arabian desert”
Claim · model-written summary
GC-MS identified over 25 bioactive compounds across the eight wild plant species.
Verbatim
e1“This study integrates morphological and molecular barcoding (ITS and rbcL) to confirm the identity of eight wild plant species native to the Saudi Arabian desert”
e2“High-resolution GC–MS analysis identified over 25 bioactive compounds across these taxa”
Claim · model-written summary
Hexadecanoic acid, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, lupeol and D-limonene were linked to antioxidant activity, desiccation tolerance and membrane protection under stress.
- Taxon
- eight wild plant speciese1
- Compound
- n-hexadecanoic acid, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, lupeol, and D-limonenee3
- Outcome
- antioxidant activity, desiccation tolerance, and membrane protection under stresse3
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e1“This study integrates morphological and molecular barcoding (ITS and rbcL) to confirm the identity of eight wild plant species native to the Saudi Arabian desert”
e3“Notable compounds such as n-hexadecanoic acid, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, lupeol, and D-limonene were linked to antioxidant activity, desiccation tolerance, and membrane protection under stress”
Claim · model-written summary
Leptadenia pyrotechnica emerged as a chemical outlier with unique metabolite profiles.
- Taxon
- L. pyrotechnica
Leptadenia pyrotechnicae4 - Outcome
- chemical outlierse4
- Qualifier
- unique metabolite profilese4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“L. pyrotechnica and A. monosperma emerged as chemical outliers with unique metabolite profiles, suggesting divergent strategies for climate resilience”
Claim · model-written summary
Artemisia monosperma emerged as a chemical outlier with unique metabolite profiles.
- Taxon
- A. monosperma
Artemisia monospermae4 - Outcome
- chemical outlierse4
- Qualifier
- unique metabolite profilese4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“L. pyrotechnica and A. monosperma emerged as chemical outliers with unique metabolite profiles, suggesting divergent strategies for climate resilience”
Claim · model-written summary
The ecological and bioeconomic value of desert flora supports future research in restoration and plant-based pharmaceuticals.
Verbatim
e5“Our results highlight the ecological and bioeconomic value of desert flora”