Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant properties of some traditional Sardinian medicinal plants:: Investigation of the high antioxidant capacity of Rubus ulmifolius

The antioxidant capacities of 11 botanical species used in the tradition of Sardinia as teas beverages or as decoction for medicinal purposes were evaluated using different in vitro methods (BR, TEAC, DPPH and FC). Among the various species, Rubus ulmifolius, resulted the more active with all the used methods. Phytochemical investigation on the extract yields in the isolation of several phenolic compounds namely caffeic acid, ferulic acid, quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, kaempferol-3-O-glueuronide, kaempferol-3-O-(6 ''-p-coumaroyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, kaempferol-3-O-(6 ''-caffeoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, chlorogenic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid and 5-caffcoylquinic acid. The antioxidant activity of isolated compounds was also evaluated. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.