Antioxidant activity of some Scorzonera species and quantitative analysis of chlorogenic acid

The genus Scorzonera L. (Compositae) is mainly originated from the Mediterranean Region and distributed from the Central Europe to Central Asia with more than 175 members [1]. In Europe there is 28 species of Scorzonera which are distributed all over the continent, from Northern Russia to Spain and Crete [2]. In Turkey Scorzonera genus is represented by 49 species [3]. This genus plants are mainly used as a vegetable in Europe as well as in Turkey. Some species of the Scorzonera genus have also medicinal usage in Turkish additionally in Europe, China and Mongolia folk medicines. In Turkish folk medicine Scorzonera species are used to treat a variety of illnesses, including arteriosclerosis, kidney diseases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and rheumatism as well as for pain relief [4]. In previous studies, triterpenes, sesquiterpenes, sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, lignans, dihydroisocoumarins and phenolic acids have been isolated from Scorzonera species. In present study antioxidant activities of some Scorzonera species were evaluated by using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and superoxide anion scavenging methods [5]. All of the extracts exhibited a scavenging effect on the DPPH and superoxide anion radical with various potencies. S. parviflora extract was established the most active with an IC50 value of 42g/ml and 2.25mg/ml respectively. Furthermore quantitative analysis of chlorogenic acid were performed by HPLC on all tested extracts.

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2. Paraschos, S. et al. (2001)J. Nat. Prod. 64:1585–1587.

3. Davis, P.H. (1975) Flora of Turkey and The East Aegean Islands. University Press. Edinburgh.

4. Baytop, T. (1999) Treatment with Plants in Turkey. Nobel. Ankara.

5. Altun, M.L. et al. (2007) Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr. 59:175–180.