title: RP-HPLC analysis of the phenolic compounds of plant extracts. investigation of their antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity.
abstract: Extracts of aromatic plants of Greek origin were examined as potential sources of phenolic compounds. RP-HPLC with UV detection was employed for the identification and quantification of the phenolic antioxidants, present in methanolic extracts. The most abundant phenolic acids were ferulic acid (1.1-280 mg/100 g of dry sample) and caffeic acid (1.2-60 mg/100 g of dry sample). (+)-Catechin and quercetin were the most abundant flavonoids. Apigenin and luteolin were detected in high amounts in Menta pulegium and Thymus vulgaris, respectively. The antioxidant capacity was determined, in dried ground plants and in their methanol extracts, with the Rancimat test using sunflower oil as substrate. Both pulverized plants and extracts showed antioxidant capacity. Total phenolic content in the extracts was determined spectrometrically according to the Folin-Ciocalteu assay and ranged from 1 to 21 mg of gallic acid/100 g of dry sample. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts against selected microbes was also conducted in this study.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Proestos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chorianopoulos
authors.forename: G-J E
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Nychas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komaitis
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000032:analysis; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002109:Caffeic Acids; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; C004999:ferulic acid; C040048:caffeic acid