Abstract

STUDIES ON THE IN VITRO ANTIRADICAL ACTIVITY, PHENOL AND FLAVONOID CONTENTS OF SAUDI MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE FAMILY ASTERACEAE HAVING XANTHINE-INHIBITOR ACTIVITIES

Mohammad Mobin*, Mohammad Nasir Khan and Zahid bin Khorshid Abdulkhaliq Nourabbas

ABSTRACT

To search the new sources of antioxidants, the phytochemical content (total phenolic and total flavonoids) and the antiradical potential of the leaves of Artemisia herba-alba, Achillea fragrantissima and Xanthium strumarium (members of Asteraceae) with known xanthine-oxidase inhibitor activity, were evaluated. Phytochemical analysis of the methanolic leaf extracts of all the three plants revealed the existence of alkaloids, phenol, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids and carbohydrates. Total phenol and flavonoid content was highest in Artemisia herba-alba and Achillea fragrantissima. Artemisia herba-alba showed maximum total antioxidant capacity and DPPH antiradical activity. However, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities were recorded highest for the methanolic extracts of Achillea fragrantissima than the other two members. In conclusion, the Saudi medicinal plants of the family Asteraceae are rich source of bioactive phytochemicals and could be an immense source of medicinally important natural antiradical compounds.

Keywords: Asteraceae, Artemisia herba-alba, Achillea fragrantissima, Xanthium strumarium, Antiradical activity, Nitric oxide scavenging activity.