Planta Med 2011; 77 - PM202
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282960

Chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Frankenia thymifolia Desf. shoot extracts

WM Ksouri 1, F Chaouachi 1, F Medini 1, Y Zaouali 2, R Ksouri 1, C Abdelly 1
  • 1Laboratoire des Plantes Extrêmophiles, Centre de Biotechnologie à la Technopole de Borj-Cédria, BP 901, 2050 Hammam-lif, Tunisia
  • 2Laboratoire de Biotechnologie Végétale, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées et Technologie (INSAT). BP 676, 1080 Tunis Cedex, Tunisie

Frankenia thymifolia Desf. is an endemic xero-halophyte species in the salted and arid region of Tunisia [1]. In this study, two shoot fractions (methanolic and chloroformic) of Frankenia were assessed on their polyphenol contents and biological activities [2]. Then, the main phenolic and fatty acid compositions were identified. Results showed that polar fraction contains a highest amount of polyphenol, flavonoïd and condensed tannin contents (14.2mg GAE g-1 DW, 4.8 and 4.6mg CE g-1 DW respectively). The higher phenolic content in this fraction reflect the best total antioxidant capacity (8.8mg GAE g-1 DW), antiradical activity against DPPH, β-carotene bleaching and Fe-reducing tests with the lowest IC50 and EC50 values as compared to apolar fraction. However, chloroformic fraction was more efficient against human pathogen strains. In fact, this fraction was active against all strains. The HPLC analysis showed that salicylic and trans-cinnamic acids were the major phenolics. The major fatty acids identified by GC/MS were palmitic, elaïdic and linoleic acids. Such variability in biological capacities between the 2 fractions can be explained by different bioactive compounds contain in each fraction and might be of great importance in terms of valorizing this halophyte as a source of bioactive molecules for cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Keywords: biological activities, fatty acids, Frankenia thymifolia, phenolics, fractionation, HPLC

References: 1. Harkat H, Haba H, Marcourt L, Long C, Benkhaled M (2007) Biochem Syst Ecol 35: 176–179.

2. Meot-Duros L, Le Floch G, Magné C (2008)J Ethnopharmacol 116: 258–262.