Total Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Capacity of Aqueous Extract from Pituranthos scoparius (Coss. & Dur.) Growing in Algeria

Abstract

This study aims to estimate the total phenolics, flavonoids and tannins contents then to investigate both in vitro antioxidant capacity models of aqueous extract (AqE) from the stems of Pituranthos scoparius, growing in Algeria. Total polyphenol contents were determined using Folin Ciocalteu's reagent; flavonoids were quantified employing the AlCl3 and method tannins using haemoglobin precipitation test. The in vitro antioxidant property was assessed by DPPH-scavenging radical and lipid peroxidation assays. The results revealed that aqueous extract presented a high total phenolic and tannins contents with values of 150.89 ± 0.68 mg GAE (gallic acid equivalent)/g and 71.24 ± 0.09 mg TAE (tannic acid equivalent)/g dry extract, respectively. This extract show an essential effect toward DPPH-scavenging assay and lipid peroxidation inhibition with 96.19 ± 0.00 µg/mL, 91.53 ± 0.98 %, respectively. This study indicates that the aqueous extract from Pituranthos sciparius has potent antioxidant effects and may prove to be of latent health benefit as well as supplementary sources for natural antioxidants drugs.
 Keywords: Pituranthos scoparius, aqueous extract, antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds.