THE PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS

Abstract

In the present study, the infusions from six medicinal plants have been evaluated in terms of their polyphenols content and antioxidant activity. The plants selected for this study are the following: elder (Sambucusnigra), chamomile (Chamomillaegermanicaeflos), sage (Salvia officinale), mistletoe (Viscum album), lemon balm (Melissa oficinalis), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). The investigated samples show a wide variation in the values obtained both for the antioxidant capacity and for the content of total phenolic compounds. The values obtained for the content of phenolic compounds vary between 87.93 μg gallic acid equivalent/mL (mistletoe) and 984.33 μg gallic acid equivalent/mL (chamomile) and increase in the order of mistletoe < chamomile < lavender < sage <elder < lemon balm. All investigated samples show high values of antioxidant activity against the DPPH radical. The results indicate the highest antioxidant activity for lemon balm. The values vary between 1.05 and 14.63 μM Trolox equivalent /mL infusion and decrease in the order: lemon balm, sage, lavender, elder, chamomile, mistletoe. The high content of phenolic compounds of these medicinal plants can explain their use in the therapy of many disease.