ABS 051: Chemical Characterization Potential of Salsola tragus: An Invasive Species with Medicinal Promise

Audrey J. Lee ¹ ², Jake Greenberg ¹ ²

¹ Department of Academic Communities, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque New Mexico 87131 
² Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque New Mexico 87131 

The Van Wickle Journal (2026) Volume 2, ABS051

Introduction: Salsola tragus (Russian thistle), commonly known as tumbleweed, is an invasive species across North America with a long history of use in Middle Eastern traditional medicine for its reported antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. While its ecological impact has been extensively studied, its bioactive potential in North America remains largely unexplored. Existing genetic studies within the past 20 years have primarily focused on California populations, while most phytochemical and essential oil analyses have been conducted in the Eastern Hemisphere. Despite the widespread distribution of Salsola tragus throughout the southwestern United States, particularly in New Mexico, little research has examined its regional chemical variation or medicinal potential.
This study addresses this gap by systematically evaluating extraction methods to isolate essential oils and organic compounds from Salsola tragus for chemical and bioactivity analysis. Four solvent-based extraction techniques, including ethanol Soxhlet extraction, ethanol solvent extraction, acetone extraction, and isopropanol extraction, were compared alongside hydrodistillation and microwave-assisted extraction. Ethanol Soxhlet extraction produced the highest yield.

A DPPH radical scavenging assay demonstrated that Salsola tragus extract possesses measurable antioxidant activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Increasing extract concentrations resulted in a higher percent inhibition of DPPH radicals. Thus indicating the presence of bioactive compounds capable of free radical scavenging. The extract showed consistent bioactivity and a quantifiable IC₅₀ value. These findings support the potential medicinal relevance of Salsola tragus and provide a foundation for future phytochemical characterization and bioactivity-guided studies.

Methods: Ten grams of frozen Salsola tragus was washed and extracted with ethanol using a Soxhlet extractor for 24 hours. The extract was filtered and concentrated using a rotary evaporator to remove ethanol and obtain the crude extract. A 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M DPPH solution was prepared in ethanol and protected from light. Serial dilutions of the Salsola Tragus extract (1000–31/25 µg/mL) were prepared. For the assay, 1 mL of each sample was mixed with 2 mL DPPH solution, vortexed, covered with aluminum foil, and incubated at room temperature for 30 min. Absorbance was measured at 517 nm in triplicate using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and percent inhibition and IC₅₀ values were calculated.

Results: Soxhlet extraction using refluxing ethanol showed the highest extraction efficiency for Salsola tragus, with an average yield of 2.9%, compared to 2.2% for ethanol solvent extraction and 2.0% for acetone extraction. Water extraction was ineffective because of biocontamination, while microwave-assisted extraction produced poor recovery of organic compounds. In the DPPH assay, the extract exhibited concentration-dependent antioxidant activity, with radical scavenging increasing at higher concentrations. Ascorbic acid, used as the positive control, showed consistently strong inhibition (>90%) across the tested concentrations. The IC₅₀ value of Salsola tragus extract was 0.9765 mg/mL, indicating lower antioxidant potency compared to control IC₅₀ = 250 µg/mL.

Discussion: Future research should focus on comparative analysis of the bioactivity and genetic diversity of Salsola tragus populations from different regions. Previous studies suggest that the species exhibits high genotypic diversity and complex hybridization patterns, which may influence regional variation in phytochemical composition and medicinal potential. Building on the extraction and antioxidant methodologies established in this study mass spectrometry, genetic characterization, and in vitro bioactivity assays to compare North American and Middle Eastern populations is needed. In addition, this project highlights the potential of integrating locally sourced plant research into STEM education, encouraging experiential learning through accessible, low-cost undergraduate research opportunities.