Planta Med 2011; 77 - PM221
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282979

Chemical profile and biological activities of Allium melanantherum Panč. extracts

N Simin 1, D Orcic 1, N Mimica Dukic 1, E Jovin 1, I Beara 1, M Lesjak 1, B Bozin 2
  • 1Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
  • 2Scool of pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia

Members of the genus Allium have been used and cultured for thousands of years for their medicinal properties and characteristic flavor. Only two species of genus Allium (A. sativum L. and A. cepa L.) are well researched, while data on chemical composition and biological activities of other species, including Allium melanantherum Panč. (subgen. Allium, sect. Codonoprasum) are very scarce.

In the present study we investigated chemical composition, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of methanolic extracts of Allium melanantherum wild growing in Serbia. Phytochemical profile was determined by measuring total phenolic, total flavonoid and total anthocyanin contents and by LC-MS/MS analysis of the extracts and headspace GC/MS analysis of fresh bulbs volatiles. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring radical scavenging capacity towards 2,2-diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazile (DPPH) and NO radicals and effect on lipid peroxidation (LP) [1]. In addition, the anti-inflammatory activity considering inhibitory potency toward production of 12-HETE, 12-HHT, PGE2 and TXB2 was observed [2].

High contents of total phenolics (5.13–5.31mg gallic acid equivalents/g of dry extract), total flavonoids (1.15–2.82mg quercetin equivalents/g of dry extract) and total monomeric anthocyanins (33–169µg cyanidine-3-glucoside equivalents/g of dry extract) were found. The dominant phenolic compounds in the extracts are ferulic and p-coumaric acids and flavonoids rutin, quercetin-3-O-Glc and kaempferol-3-O-Glc. Dimethyl-disulphide was detected as only volatile compound. The extract inhibited production of 12-HETE, 12-HHT, PGE2 and TXB2 in a dose-dependent manner. Antioxidant activity was weak compared with synthetic antioxidants.

Keywords: Allium melanantherum, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS

Acknowledgement: Ministry of Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia, grant No. 172058

References: [1] Lesjak M et al. (2011) Food Chem 124:580–856.

[2] Beara IN et al. (2010)J Pharm Biomed Anal 52: 701–706.