Total content of phenols and anthocyanins in leaves and flowers of some medicinal plants from Bosnia

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the total content of phenols and anthocyanins in some medicinal plants. METHODS: Total phenols were estimated by a spectrophotometric method, and anthocyanins were measured using pH differential spectrophotometry. RESULTS: The total phenol content in rose was 106.0mg/g. In the leaves of medicinal plants the total phenol content (in mg/g) was as follows: palmarosa (Pelargonium condensatum) 66.7, yew (Taxus baccata) 31.6, lovage (Levisticum officinalis) 19.0, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) 17.8, peppermint (Mentha piperita) 15.4, garlic (Allium sativum) 15.4, onion (Allium cepa) 14.6, wild garlic (Allium ursinum) 13.3. The total phenol content in a mixture of the leaves and flowers (in mg/g) of some medicinal plants was: yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 46.0, costmary (Chrysanthemum balsamita) 43.0, tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) 13.1. The total anthocyanin content in flowers of some medicinal plants (in mg/g) was: hippeastrum (Amaryllis) 1.04, green-winged orchid (Orchis morio) 0.95, rose (Rosa damascena) 0.047, yew 0,016. CONCLUSION: The highest content of total phenols was found in rose flowers. Also, in the leaves of Palmarosa the highest content of total phenols was found, and the lowest content of total phenols in wild garlic. The highest content of total phenols in a mixture of leaves and flowers was found in yarrow, and the lowest in tansy. The highest content of total anthocyanins was found in flowers of hippeastrum, and the lowest in yew.