Antioxidant Capacity and Phenolic Contents of Three <i>Quercus</i> Species

Abstract

The antioxidant capability and phenolic contents of ethanol extracts (free phenolics) and ethyl acetate extracts (bound phenolics) of three Quercus species were estimated in this work. The antioxidant activities were examined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) free radical, reducing power and b-carotene bleaching methods. HPLC was employed to detect major phenolic acids. The leaf extract of Q. salicina contained maximum total phenolics while the highest total flavonoid content was found in the leaf extract of Q. serrata. The antioxidant activities varied among three species. Bark extract of Q. salicina was the most potential and it was closed to levels of the standard antioxidative dibutyl hydroxytoluene (BHT). The bark extract of Q. serrata also showed promising antioxidant activities despite their eminence was negligibly lower than Q. salicina. Stronger antioxidant activities of free phenolics than those of the bound phenolics may be attributed to higher quantities of free phenolics in the barks of Quercus species, however total flavonoids may not contribute a critical role. By HPLC analysis, thirteen phenolic acids were detected in the leaf and bark extracts. Of them, Q. salicina showed maximum in number (ten compounds) and quantities of detected phenolic acids. Ellagic, chlorogenic and benzoic acids were dominant in Quercus species. Findings of this study revealed that leaves and barks of three Quercus species are rich source of antioxidants, and Q.salicina is the most promising and should be elaborated to exploit its pharmaceutical properties.