This study focuses on the assessment of the phytochemical content and antioxidant potency of the crude hydromethanolic and aqueous extracts of nine folkloric medicinal plants from the Bechar region (Southwest Algeria). Phytochemical screening of the subjected extracts was done qualitatively and quantitatively using standard chemical tests. Antioxidant activity was performed according to various tests having different mechanisms. Among all extracts, the aqueous extract of Rhus tripartita DC. (276.221 ± 0.079 mg GAE g-1) showed the highest phenolic content. The hydromethanolic extracts of Periploca laevigata Aiton showed the highest flavonoid content (646.531 ± 0.234 mg QE g-1), whereas the hydromethanolic extracts of Andropogon schoenanthus Spreng. and R. tripartita exposed the highest polysaccharide content (356.609 ± 0.005 and 350.440 ± 0.049 mg GE g-1 respectively). The performed antioxidant activity proved that the hydromethanolic extracts had a strong radical scavenging ability comparing with the aqueous extracts. The hydromethanolic and aqueous extracts of R. tripartita exhibited the highest total antioxidant activity with a very low IC50 (15.838 and 19.539 mg mL-1 respectively). The hydromethanolic extracts of R. tripartita and P. laevigata had the highest ferric reducing antioxidant potency (624.194 ± 0.294 and 589.195 ± 0.054 AAEFRAP g-1 respectively). Hydromethanolic and aqueous extracts of R. tripartita had the highest total antioxidant capacity (361.507 ± 0.326 and 426.581 ± 0.1812 mg AAE g-1 respectively). The preliminary results obtained in this study serve as an important guide or tool in the selection of potential candidates for further pharmacological studies.

medicinal plants, phytochemical screening, polyphenolic content, total flavonoid content, total polysaccharides content, antioxidant potency

Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, CROATIA
Sponsored by Ministry Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia