Antioxidant activity, total phenol and flavonoid contents of Sideritis montana L. from Serbia

In this study were determined the concentration of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and in vitro antioxidant activity of water, methanol and acetone extracts, from the whole herb of Sideritis montana using spectrophotometric methods. Sideritis montana L. (Lamiaceae) is the annual species with low branched trunk, up to 40cm high. Inhabits sand arid meadows and rocky in the Europe and the Mediterranean [1]. In traditional medicine is known as ironwort and used for the antispasmodic, carminative [2], antimicrobial [3] and antistress [4] effects. Plant material was collected from the Stara Planina Mt. in eastern Serbia. The total phenolic content of the extracts ranged from 47.35mg/g to 97.85mg/g dry weight of extract, expressed as gallic acid equivalents. The total flavonoid concentrations varied from 24.13mg/g to 206.4mg/g, expressed as rutin equivalents. Acetone extract had the highest flavonoid concentration of 206.4mg/g. Antioxidant activity of extracts were expressed as IC⁵⁰ values (mg/ml) and ranged from 69.37mg/mL to 229.3mg/mL. The high contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoids indicated that these compounds contribute to the antioxidant activity. Based on these results, Sideritis montana is a potential source of flavonoids as a natural antioxidant substances of high value.

References: 1. Josifovic, M. (1974) Flora SR Srbije. SANU. Beograd.

2. Tabanca, N. et al. (1998) Turk. J. Chem. 25:201–208.

3. Kursat, M. et al. (2009) Turk. J. of Sci. & Tehn. 4(1):81–85.

4. Öztürk, Y. et al. (1998) Phytother. Res. 10(1):70–73.