VERBASCUM  NIGRUM L. AND AJUGA CHIA SCHREB.: ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND CORRELATION WITH PHENOLIC CONTENT

Iolanda Alca ILIESCU; Irina MACOVEI; Anca MIRON

Iolanda Alca ILIESCU “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi
Irina MACOVEI “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi
Anca MIRON “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant potential of Verbascum nigrum L. and Ajuga chia Schreb. aerial parts in correlation with their phenolic contents. Material and methods: Each plant material was subjected to a five-step sequential extraction procedure using diethyl ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. The total phenolic content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Antioxidant activity was assessed using six in vitro assays: DPPH radical, ABTS radical cation, superoxide anion radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays, reducing power and ferrous ions chelating assay. Results and discussion: The highest phenolic contents were found in Verbascum nigrum ethyl acetate and methanol extracts (199.35 ± 3.63 and 181.94 ± 2.38 mg/g, respectively). Verbascum nigrum methanol extract developed the most potent scavenging effects against DPPH, ABTS and superoxide radicals and showed the strongest reducing power (EC₅₀ = 28.03 ± 0.40, 17.77 ± 0.00, 990.00 ± 0.01 and 17.30 ± 0.12 µg/mL, respectively). Verbascum nigrum aqueous extract strongly chelated the prooxidant ferrous ions (EC₅₀ = 0.05 ± 0.01 mg/mL). There were found strong positive correlations between the antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS scavenging activity, reducing capacity) and phenolic content of Verbascum nigrum extracts. Conclusions: Verbascum nigrum is a rich source of antioxidant compounds and needs further investigations on the metabolite profiling and bioactivity.

Author Biographies

Iolanda Alca ILIESCU, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi

Faculty of Pharmacy
Department of Pharmacognosy
“Antibiotice” SA, Iasi, Romania
Portfolio Management Department

Irina MACOVEI, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi

Faculty of Pharmacy
Department of Drug Analysis

Anca MIRON, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi

Faculty of Pharmacy
Department of Pharmacognosy

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