title: Aromatic Plants: Antioxidant Capacity and Polyphenol Characterisation.
abstract: The antioxidant properties and polyphenol content of some selected aromatic plants grown in Greece were studied. Plants were refluxed with 60% methanol after acid hydrolysis. The phenolic substances were quantified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD). The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was determined with the Rancimat test using sunflower oil as substrate. Free radical scavenging activity was measured using the stable free radical 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Results were compared with standard butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and ascorbic acid. Total phenol concentration of the extracts was estimated with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent using gallic acid as standard. All plant extracts examined showed antioxidant capacity and contained phenolic compounds. Caffeic acid was detected in all the examined plant extracts. Ferulic acid was also detected in all the methanolic extracts, except fromP. lanata, in rather high concentration. The amount of total phenolics varied slightly in plant materials and ranged from 8.2 mg to 31.6 mg of gallic acid/g dry sample. The highest amount was found inO. dictamnus, and the lowest inN. melissifolia.
authors.affiliation: . Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 15771, Greece. harpro@chem.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Proestos
authors.affiliation: . Τechnological Educational Institute (TΕΙ) Peloponnese, Department of Food Technology, Antikalamos, Kalamata 24100, Greece. theovarzakas@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Varzakas
keywords: DPPH; HPLC; Rancimat test; antioxidant capacity; aromatic plants