Flavonoid Content and Antioxidant Properties in Different Extracts of Calluna vulgaris (L.) Flowers

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of four different solvent, i.e., water, ethanol, water-ethanol mixture and ethyl acetate, on the antioxidant activities of wild and cultivated heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull) plant. The highest values for total flavonoid content were obtained for samples extracted using ethanol-water mixture and ethyl acetate. Cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) method, scavenging ability on 1,1-diphenyl-2-pirylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH) radicals and chelating activity on Fe 2+ ions have been used for evaluation of antioxidant activity of the extracts. Ethanolic fraction exhibited the lowest reducing capacity, despite a heather sample used. The extracts of cultivated heather exhibited significant scavenging effect on DPPH radicals, and ethanol and ethanol-water fractions were found to be the most effective. The metal-chelating effect of the extracts increased in the order: ethanol < ethyl acetate < ethanol-water < water. The results may be helpful for better utilization of heather flowers extracts as potential pharmaceutical and nutraceutical ingredient.

Changes in the Content of Some Groups of Phenolic Compounds and Biological Activity of Extracts of Various Parts of Heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull) at Different Growth Stages

“…In addition, it is used as a preventive and therapeutic agent in increased irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and decreased performance, all of which may be owing to its inhibitory effects on monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) [10,11]. The carried out pharmacological studies of extracts of the aerial parts of the plant revealed its antioxidant, antiviral, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, cytotoxic, genoprotective, and antiproliferative effects [12][13][14][15][16].…”

“…Even though the phytochemical composition of heather is quite well researched [12,[16][17][18][19]29,30], studies on the change in content of the phenolic compounds in various plant organs (leaves, stems, roots, rhizomes, flowers, and seeds) at various stages of ontogenesis did not take place previously. The authors of the studies available to date researched either the seasonal variation in phenolic compound content in a whole aerial part of the plant or in various organs of the plant at one vegetation phase (mainly at the flowering stage).…”