No abstract

The plant raw material of Galega officinalis L. (goat’s rue) and Galega orientalis Lam. (fodder galega) investigated in this study. These species are known as fodder crops with high productivity of green mass and as medicine plants. The current study was aimed to evaluate an accumulation in dry raw of selected plants the total content of phenolic acids (TPA) and flavonoids (TFC) as compounds with antioxidant activity (AA) by spectrophotometric method. AA by DPPH-method and phosphomolybdenum method (reducing power (RP)) was measured. Study of ethanolic extracts of G. officinalis showed accumulation of TPA in different organs in range from 3.65 to 15.17 mg.g-1 caffeic acid equivalent (CAE) and TFC from 10.08 to 65.75 mg.g-1 quercetin equivalent (QE), AA by DPPH-method from 6.02 to 8.45 mg.g-1 Trolox equivalent (TE) and RP of extracts by phosphomolybdenum method from 86.56 to 288.15 mg TE.g-1. In extracts of G. orientalis was identified TPA from 3.52 to 18.52 mg CAE.g-1 and TFC from 6.09 to 46.72 mg QE.g-1, antioxidant activity by DPPH-method from 6.80 to 8.48 mg TE.g-1 and antioxidant capacity by phosphomolybdenum method from 52.52 to 188.51 mg TE.g-1. It was established that less concentration of studied compounds found in the stems for both species. It should be noted that the content of phenolic acids in the leaves was decreased and flavonoids in stems increased during vegetation for both species. Content of phenolic acids in the generative organs and flavonoids in the leaves decreased in raw of G. orientalis during vegetation. Pearson’s correlation analysis demonstrated very strong relations between TFC and AA by DPPH, TPA and RP, TFC and RP for G. officinalis extracts. Very strong correlation in the extracts of G. orientalis found between TFC and RP, TPA and RP. Obtained results can be used in the further biochemical and pharmacological study.

The current study was aimed to evaluate an accumulation in plant raw material of Bunias orientalis L. and Scorzonera hispanica L. the total content of phenolic compounds, phenolic acids, flavonoids, antioxidant activity (by DPPH-method) and reducing power of alcoholic extracts. Raw of investigated plants collected from experimental collections of M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine (Kyiv) and dried for next investigation. Obtained results showed that total content of polyphenols in the above-ground parts of B. orientalis extracts was 52.88 mg g-1 GAE (gallic acid equivalent), phenolic acids-11.29 mg g-1 CAE (caffeic acid equivalent), flavonoids-39.91 mg g-1 QE (quercetin equivalent), antioxidant activity-8.94 mg g-1 TE (Trolox equivalent) and reducing power of extracts-184.59 mg g-1 TE (Trolox equivalent). Total content of polyphenols in the above-ground parts of S. hispanica plants was 60.16 mg g-1 GAE, phenolic acids-20.71 mg g-1 CAE, flavonoids-36.24 mg g-1 QE, antioxidant activity-5.35 mg g-1 TE and reducing power of extracts-125.40 mg g-1 TE. Also, total content of polyphenols in the roots of B. orientalis extracts was 9.75 mg g-1 GAE, phenolic acids-1.73 mg g-1 CAE and reducing power of extracts-138.70 mg g-1 TE. Root extracts of S. hispanica had total content of polyphenols of 10.87 mg g-1 GAE, phenolic acids-2.62 mg g-1 CAE and reducing power of extracts-110.96 mg g-1 TE. Flavonoids and antioxidant activity in the root extracts of both species weren't determined. The antimicrobial activity of alcoholic extracts of two investigated species was tested against 8 microorganisms by disc diffusion method. It was found that higher activity against microbial strains had alcoholic extracts of B. orientalis roots.

Background. American persimmons (Diospyros virginiana L.) are known as a widespread cultivar which were traditionally used by Native Americans as a food source, and since ancient times have been used in folk medicine. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and phenolic content of Diospyros virginiana genotypes. Material and methods. The content of the total antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds from the fruits of the American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana L.) of six genotypes were compared. Antioxidant activity (AOA) was measured using three different photometric methods -DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power). Total phenolic content (TPC) was evaluated using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent assay. Results. The results for AOA (μMol Trolox/g) determined by the DPPH method varied from 51.68 (DV-05) to 100.87 (DV-03), those obtained by the ABTS method varied from 65.40 (DV-05) to 142.26 (DV-03), and those obtained by the FRAP method varied from 45.06 (DV-05) to 109.30 (DV-03). The results for TPC varied from 590.75 ±27.98 mg/100 g (DV-05) to 1325.12 ±77.30 mg/100 g (DV-03). The highest results for AOA and TPC were achieved for the fruits of genotypes DV-03 and DV-05. A positive linear correlation was found between antioxidant activity and total phenolic content in the examined plant material. Conclusion.The results showed that all fruit extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activities, which generally correlated positively with the total phenolic content. This study demonstrates the potential of the fruits of Diospyros virginiana grown in Ukraine as a possible source of valuable polyphenol content, with high antioxidant activities and health-promoting properties. The high contents of phenolic compounds and significant linear correlation between the values of the concentration of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity indicated that these compounds contributed to the strong antioxidant activity.

Chokeberry (Aronia Medik.) is a non-traditional fruit plant known as a rich source of biologically active compounds and inhibits the numerous biological activities. We compared the antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds of fruits between widely cultivated Aronia mitschurinii (AM-TCH, from Tchekhov district; AM-D, from Dmitrov district; AM-OZ, from Orekhovo-Zuevsky district of Moscow region, Russia) and introduced North American Aronia species (Aronia arbutifolia (AA-M), A. melanocarpa (AML-M), A. × prunifolia (AP-M), which have not been planted yet in the arboretum of Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow). Studying samples were collected in their secondary distribution range. Ethanolic extracts were determined for antioxidant capacity (antioxidant activity by DPPH and phosphomolybdenum methods, the total content of polyphenols, flavonoids, phenolic acids) and measured spectrophotometrically. As standards were used Trolox (TE) for antioxidant activities, gallic acid (GAE) for polyphenol content, quercetin (QE) for flavonoid content, caffeic acid (CAE) for phenolic acid content. The antioxidant activity by DPPH method in ethanol extracts of investigated plants was from 6.96 (AM-D) to 8.89 (AM-OZ) mg TE.g-1 DW. Reducing the power of investigated extracts exhibited activity from 151.47 (AM-OZ) to 297.8 (AA-M) mg TE.g-1 DW. The content of polyphenol compounds determined from 25.98 (AM-TCH) to 54.39 (AA-M) mg GAE.g-1 DW, phenolic acids content was from 7.76 (AP-M) to 11.87 (AM-D) mg CAE.g-1 DW and the content of flavonoids detected from 8.12 (AM-OZ) to 16.62 (AM-D) mg QE.-1 DW. Obtained data showed a strong correlation between the content of polyphenol compounds and reducing the power of extracts (r = 0.700), between flavonoids and phenolic acids (r = 0.771) and also between phenolic acids and reducing power (r = 0.753) in Aronia ethanol extracts. Fruits of investigated species of Aronia can be propagated as a source of polyphenol compounds with antioxidant activity and obtained results may use for farther pharmacological study.

The aim of the research is the determination of the total antioxidant activity and the content of phenolic compounds of the leaves of 12 species of non-traditional plants, namely, Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem., Aronia mitschurinii A.K. Skvortsov & Maitul., Castanea sativa Mill., Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.) Lindl., Cornus mas L., Diospyros kaki L., Diospyros lotus L., Diospyros virginiana L., Lycium barbarum L., Lycium сhinense Mill., Pseudocydonia sinensis (Thouin) C.K. Schneid., Ziziphus jujuba Mill. Total phenolic content was evaluated using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent assay. Antioxidant activity was measured using two different methods (DPPH – 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, MRAP – molybdenum reducing antioxidant power). Significant variability was observed in phenolic compounds content and total antioxidant activity. Total polyphenol content ranged from 38.02 (Z. jujuba) to 80.58 (C. sativa) mg GAE.g-1 DM, total flavonoid content from 22.47 (P. sinensis) to 54.61 (L. barbarum) mg QE.g-1 DM and phenolic acids content from 3.51 (A. mitschurinii) to 24.67 (Ch. japonica) mg CAE.g-1 DM. All tested samples exhibited DPPH• radical scavenging activities with values from 6.92 (A. mitschurinii) to 9.0 (C. mas) mg TEAC.g-1 DM. Antioxidant activity by molybdenum reducing antioxidant power method ranged from 109.43 (A. mitschurinii) to 322.95 (C. mas) mg TEAC.g-1 DM. Differences between the species of non-traditional plants were significant in all observed parameters. Obtained results of phytochemical composition demonstrated the possibility of leaves' use of non-traditional plants as sources of valuable bioactive compounds with health-promoting and disease-preventing properties.

This scientific work was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of aromatic plants of Thymus spp. in the East of Ukraine. These plants are known as medicinal and food around the world. All antioxidant parameters were investigated spectrophotometrically: total content of polyphenols (TPC), the total content of phenolic acids (TPAC), the total content of flavonoids (TFC), molybdenum reducing power of extracts (MRP), and antioxidant activity by DPPH method (DPPH). Investigation of ethanolic extracts demonstrated that TPC varied from 57.89 to 123.67 mg/g gallic acid equivalent (GAE) DW for Th. pulegioides, from 61.43 to 168.18 mg GAE/g for Th. serpyllum, and from 47.36 to 115.67 mg GAE/g for Th. vulgaris. TPAC ranged from 27.36 to 50.22 mg/g caffeic acid equivalent (CAE) DW for Th. pulegioides, from 28.58 to 59.62 mg CAE/g for Th. serpyllum, and from 22.95 to 53.82 mg CAE/g for Th. vulgaris. TFC was determined in a range from 29.88 to 61.23 mg/g quercetin equivalent (QE) DW for Th. pulegioides, from 36.0 to 82.43 mg QE/g for Th. serpyllum, and from 24.59 to 55.41 mg QE/g for Th. vulgaris. MRP was detected in the range of 94.65 – 204.76 mg/g Trolox equivalent (TE) DW for Th. pulegioides, 96.06 – 219.0 mg TE/g for Th. serpyllum, and 87.56 – 215.43 mg TE/g for Th. vulgaris. The antioxidant activity of extracts by the DPPH method was 6.34 – 9.23 mg TE/g for Th. pulegioides, 8.11 – 9.21 mg TE/g for Th. serpyllum, and 4.97 – 9.53 mg TE/g for Th. vulgaris. It was established that polyphenol accumulation depended on the growth stage and species. For all species was found a strong correlation between TPC and TFC (r = 0.938, 0.908, and 0.854). Investigated Thymus spp. are a valuable source of antioxidants that can be used in pharmacological studies and the food industry.

The phytochemical characteristics of alien species have not yet been fully studied. Meanwhile, the reserves of their raw materials in the secondary distribution range are very large and can be used as new sources of functional ingredients for food, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and medicines. Particular attention is attracted by species which have closely related native plants that are included in the official pharmacopeia. Solidago canadensis L. in Slovakia has already formed powerful thickets, and a similar species Solidago virgaurea L. is used as a medicinal plant. The goal of our study is to examine biologically active compounds from leaves and inflorescences of Solidago canadensis collected in some invasive populations along the Nitra river and Gron river. Leaves and inflorescences of 3 populations have been taken for analysis. In addition, we tested herbal tea was made by a traditional procedure using 2 types of fermentation. The following parameters have been understudying: total dry matter, ash and protein content, total lipid, saccharides, vitamin C content, total carotenoid content, amino acids content, elemental analysis, and antioxidant activity. Mean values and variations of these parameters are given in the article. The results demonstrated that S. canadensis can be a valuable raw material resource for many sectors of the economy with the possibility of its wider application in the future.