Antioxidant activities, total phenols and total Flavonoids assay of Origanurm vulgare, Teucrium polium and Thymus daensis

Introduction: Medicinal plants are important sources of antioxidants. Natural antioxidants
increase the antioxidant capacity of the plasma and reduce the risk of certain diseases such as
cancer, heart diseases and stroke. Synthetic antioxidants commonly used in processed foods
have side effects and are toxic. Therefore, there is a need for more effective, less toxic and
cost effective antioxidants derived from medicinal plants.
Methods: The Stems and flower sample of plants were air-dried, finely ground and
extracted by 70% ethanol for 48 hours. The antioxidant activity of three ethanolic extract of
medicinal plants (Origanurm vulgare, Teucrium polium and Thymus daensis), were
analyzed by five different methods including (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy l (DPPH) radical
,2,2-azinobis- (3-ethylbenzthiazoline -6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical cation, Ferricreducing
antioxidant power assay (FRAP) , phosphomolybdenum (PMB) and reducing
power (RP). For determination of antioxidant components total phenolic content was
analyzed.
Results: The total phenolic content and flavonoid of medicinal plant extracts ranged from
97.7-140 mgE/g and 34.6-68 mg. Origanurm vulgare had the highest value of total phenol
and flavonoid content. There was significant variation in total phenol value of Origanurm
vulgare and Thymus daensis (P<0.05). Origanurm vulgare showed highest activities in
ABTS and DPPH assays 747±5.2 and 1906.5±66.5 respectively. Significant difference
activities was found in all extracts in FRAP and PMB assays (P<0.0001).
Conclusion: The extracts showed various antioxidant activities in all antioxidant assay
systems. Origanurm vulgare extract could be an important dietary source of phenolic
compounds with high antioxidant capacity.