Correlation among phenolic, toxic metals and antioxidant activity of the extracts of plant species from Southeast Serbia

B.B Arsic,D.A Kostic,M.N Mitic,J.M Velickovic,S.S Randjelovic,A.N Pavlovic,S.S Mitic

doi:10.4314/bcse.v27i2.2

Abstract

The content of metals, total phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activities of different plant extracts, used in Serbian traditional medicine, were determined. Phenol content determined using UV-Vis spectrophotometer measurements at 765 nm in the tested plant extracts obtained by standard extraction procedure decreases in the order Origanum vulgare L. < Delphinum consolida L. < Cichorium intybus L. < Calendula officinalis L. The tested extracts, examined by DPPH (di(phenyl)-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)iminoazanium) method, showed high antioxidant activity that correlates significantly with the content of phenols and flavonoids. The contents of metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Cd, Cr, Pb) were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Toxic metals, such as Cd, Cr, Pb, were not detected in the investigated plants. Content of other metals in plants and their extracts were low, except content of Fe. We examined the correlation of metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn) and phenolic compounds content in the extracts using PCA (principal component analysis). The investigated plants from Southeastern Serbia are suitable for the preparation of teas and herbal extracts, due to the low content of toxic metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn), the high content of phenolic compounds and high antioxidant activity.

Highlights

Humans consume and use different medicinal plants
Plant phenols represent an important group of natural antioxidants, which show beside antioxidant activity, antimutagenic, anticancer, antiinflammatory, anti-ulcus and antimicrobial properties, and decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases [2, 3]
The effectiveness of medicinal plants is mainly associated with their constituents, it was found that their prolonged intake can cause health problems due to possible presence of toxic metals [4]

Summary

Introduction

Medicinal plants are widely considered to pose less risk than synthetic drugs, they are not completely free of toxic or other side effects [1]. There is a considerable interest in identifying natural antioxidants isolated from plants that protect them against free radical damage as an alternative to synthetic medicines [2, 3]. The effectiveness of medicinal plants is mainly associated with their constituents, it was found that their prolonged intake can cause health problems due to possible presence of toxic metals [4]. Because of the possibility of accumulation of toxic metals in plants, there is an increasing interest in determination of their contents. Control of toxic metals in medicinal plants and their products should be made in order to ensure the safety and efficacy of herbal products [8]

Objectives

Results

Conclusion