Total Phenolic, Total Flavonoid And Antioxidant Activity Of Some Plants Of Gemnosperms: Phytochemical Investigation Of Dioon Edule Lindl. Leaves

Quantification of the phenolic content and evaluation of the antioxidant potential of some plants of gymnosperms were performed. The selected plants were Cycas revoluta male plant (Cycadaceae), Araucaria excelsa (Araucariaceae), Dioon edule Lindl. (Zamiaceae), and Cupressus sempervirens L. (Cupressaceae). The total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and the total flavonoids content (TFC) was measured via complexation with aluminum chloride and the antioxidant activity was evaluated with DPPH (2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay [1]. Among the tested plants, Cupressus sempervirens female cones showed the highest antioxidant activity (11.73 ± 0.06 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/gm dry plant) while Araucaria excelsa leaves showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid content (2.73 ± 0.001 mg gallic acid equivalent and 4.2182 ± 0.15 mg rutin equivalent/gm dry plant, respectively). Phytochemical investigation of Dioon edule leaves afforded the isolation of several biflavones and their methoxylated derivatives.

Fig. 1: comparative total phenolic, total flavonoids, DPPH scavenging activity of selected plants of Gymnosperms.

References: [1] Awah FM, et al. (2012). Food Chem 131:1279 – 1286.