Evaluation of antioxidant activity, phytochemicals and ESR analysis of lavandula stoechas

Abstract

The antioxidant activity of phytochemicals and of the methanolic extract of Lavandula stoechas was evaluated by beta-carotene-linoleate bleaching, DPPH radical scavenging, ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP). The obtained results were compared with antioxidant activities of synthetic antioxidants, such as BHT and BHA. The highest antioxidant activity of the extract was observed by DPPH radical scavenging assay, which was 84.45 +/- 5.1 % at 1 mg ml(-1). Rutin, rosmarinic acid, and caffeic acid were main phenolics in the extract. The total phenolic content of the methanolic extract of Lavandula stoechas was found to be 105.5 +/- 2.7 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE). Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements were also performed on the samples. Free radicals were determined by ESR method. g value was found to be 2.0034 for the Lavandula stoechas; 2.0052 for quercetin.