Antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts of Lavandula species cultivated in Croatia

Oxidative stress, induced by reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the causation and progression of several chronic diseases. Since antioxidants can prevent oxidative damages at various levels, they have received considerable interest by researchers in the recent years. Phenolic compounds, being widely distributed in plants, are known to possess antioxidant properties. Our work aimed to determine phenolic compounds of crude ethanolic extracts of Lavandula hybrida'Budrovka' and L. angustifolia originating from Croatia as well as to evaluate their antioxidant potential. Contents of various phenols (phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, procyanidins and antocyanins) were determined spectrophotometrically in the extracts of leaves, flowers and stems of Lavandula species [1]. Furthermore, antioxidative properties of extracts were estimated by two methods, DPPH radical scavenging activity and the chelating ability of ferrous ions [2]. Flower and leaf extracts of Lavandula hybrida'Budrovka' (IC₅₀=17µg/mL; IC₅₀=14µg/mL) as well as of L. angustifolia (IC₅₀=12µg/mL; IC₅₀=11µg/mL) were found to be a good scavenger of DPPH free radical, while stem extracts showed lower activity. All tested extracts exhibited weak chelating ability of ferrous ions (IC₅₀ values in the range of 200–500µg/mL) when compared to standard chelator EDTA (IC₅₀=13,5µg/mL). Our results indicate that Lavandula hybrida'Budrovka' and L. angustifolia are reach sources of phenolic compounds, especially phenolic acids, and promising plants for further investigations of biological effects.

References: 1. European Pharmacopoeia, 4^rd edn (2002).

2. Gulcin, I. (2006) Life Sci. 78:803–811.