Abstract
In the present study, antioxidant properties of flavonoids and polysaccharides from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaves were evaluated in several in vitro systems, e.g., scavenging activities on hydroxyl, superoxide anion, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, and reducing power. Flavonoids showed much better activity than polysaccharides in scavenging activities on free radicals. When compared to the positive control, ascorbic acid, both showed weaker antioxidant potential. However, flavonoids possessed comparable superoxide anion, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging abilities to ascorbic acid at high concentration (600 μg/mL). Meanwhile, it was found that flavonoids had prominent effects on the reducing power, which was equivalent to ascorbic acid, and was significantly higher than polysaccharides. These results clearly indicate that flavonoids are effective in scavenging free radicals and have the potential to be powerful antioxidants. Thus, tobacco leaves could be considered as a potential source of natural antioxidants for food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics or nutraceutical industries.
Highlights
In China, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is a very important economic crop
46.61 ± 3.11 mg/g was shown for the neutral polysaccharide, whereas 3.21 ± 0.22 mg/g was found for the acidic polysaccharides
The present results proved that flavonoids was a good scavenger for hydroxyl radicals
Summary
In China, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is a very important economic crop. The discarded tobacco leaves are economically valuable because of abundant bioactive compounds in them, such as polyphenols, proteins and aromatic compounds [1,2,3]. It is important to investigate and better utilize the tobacco leaves resource. Wang et al [4] identified the polyphenols in tobacco leaves and their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were investigated. Flavonoids, very important constituents of plants, may contribute directly to anti-oxidative action because of the scavenging ability conferred by their hydroxyl groups. It would be beneficial to isolate polysaccharides from tobacco leaves for using as a nutritional supplement. The basic aim of this research was to study antioxidant properties of flavonoids and polysaccharides from tobacco leaves
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
