PHENOLIC CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF DIFFERENT EXTRACTS FROM OCIMUM BASILICUM, APIUM GRAVEOLENS AND LEPIDIUM SATIVUM SEEDS

The antioxidative properties and total phenolic contents of methanol, ethanol and water extracts from Ocimum basilicum, Apium graveolens and Lepidium sativum seeds were investigated and the results were compared with standards. The methanol extracts of the seeds had significantly higher (P < 0.05) superoxide radical scavenging activity with the concentration for 50% inhibition (IC50) value of 98.73 mu g/mL for O. basilicum, 121.57 mu g/mL for A. graveolens and 166.16 mu g/mL for L. sativum. The results indicated that all the seed extracts showed excellent H2O2 scavenging activities. IC50 values for H2O2 scavenging activity by methanol extract of O. basilicum, A. graveolens, L. sativum and butylated hydroxyanisole were found to be as 49.9, 52.3, 65.2 and 49.6 mu g/mL, respectively. O. basilicum methanol extract had significantly (P < 0.05) higher 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl scavenging effect than the other two seeds. The methanol extracts of three seeds were better in Fe+2 chelating activity, reducing power and higher in the content of total phenol as compared with ethanol and water extracts. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Recent epidemiological studies have strongly suggested that consumption of certain plant materials such as seeds, leaves, fruits and roots may reduce the risk of chronic diseases related to oxidative stress on account of their antioxidant activity and promote general health benefits. In this study, all seeds extracts exhibited good antioxidant activity (78.3-96.9%) at concentration 500 mu g/mL. Total phenolic content in the seed extracts ranged from 51 to 92 mg GAE/100 g extract. In addition, there was a statistically significant correlation between the amount of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity (R2 = 0.9058, P < 0.05) in all the seed extracts. Therefore, O. basilicum, A. greveolens and L. sativum seed extracts have the potential to be developed into dietary supplements and nutraceuticals.