Total Content of Polyphenols and Antioxidant Activity of Different Melliferous Plants

Abstract

In this study polyphenols content and antioxidant activity of melliferous plants for the following: mint ( Mentha pulegium) , burdock ( Arctium lappa), comfrey (Symphytum officinale), plantain (Pantago lanceolata), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), sage (Salvia officinalis), marigold (Calendula officinalis) , small marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), echinacea (Echinaceea angustifolia) and black popular (Populus nigra) were investigated, using two different extraction methods. High content of polyphenols and flavones were extracted from Populus nigra , with an average of both extractions 23.14 mg GAE/g and 78.07 mg QE/g flavones. Among the studied plants, Arctium lappa registered the highest antioxidant activity (0.129 mmol Trolox/mL) in alcoholic extract and Echinaceea angustifolia with a value of 0.122 mmol Trolox/mL in aqueous extract. The lowest values were recorded for the antioxidant activity of Althaea officinalis (alcoholic extract) and Arctium lappa (aqueous extract). The results show that Arctium lappa, Echinaceea angustifolia and Populus nigra can be considered melliferous plants for their high biologically active compounds potential and bee products (honey and pollen) that having the composition of these plants will have high antioxidant and antibacterial properties.