Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of extracts and fractions of cultivated Leonurus cardiaca L.

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L), which originally came from central Europe, has spread to all temperate areas of the world. It has been used for a variety of human diseases, specifically in cardiac disorders [1,2]. In Iran, L. cardiaca is cultivated for the first time in order to produce industrial formulations. Officinal motherwort is known to have significant amounts of phenolics and flavonoids [2]. Due to the important role of phenolic compounds in prevention of heart disease [3], we evaluated L. cardiaca extract for its antioxidant activities and total phenolic contents. After collecting flowering aerial parts of cultivated motherwort, the total phenolic content and antioxidant activities were determined, using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay and in vitro 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging respectively. Average phenol content of the total extract was estimated to be about 2.10±0.01mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of dried plant. The analysis of fractions showed the highest total phenolic content in the 50:50 metanolic- aqueous fraction (70.79±4.41 GAE/g of fraction). This fraction also exhibited significant antioxidant activity and strongly scavenged DPPH radical, with an IC₅₀ value of 53.79µg/ml.

Acknowledgements: This research has been supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences and health services grant number 9289–33–03–88.

References: 1. Fleming T., et al. (2000) PDR for herbal medicine. Medical Economics Company. Montvale.

2. Barnes, J., Anderson, LA. Phillipson JD (2007) Herbal Medicines. Pharmaceutical Press. London.

3. Hertog, M.G., et al. (1993) Lancet 342:1007–1011.