Phytochemical Characterization and Radical Scavenging Activity of Aqueous Extracts of Medicinal Plants from Portugal

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of four medicinal plants from Portugal usually consumed as tea infusion, Melissa officinalis (Lamiaceae) – lemon balm, Matricaria chamomilla (Asteraceae) – chamomile, Olea europaea (Oleaceae) – olive leaves, and Aloysia triphylla (Verbenaceae) – lemon verbena.
Place and Duration of Study: Air-dried leaves of four of the most consumed medicinal plants from Portugal were analyzed in the Department of Pharmacognosy (UFP) and Laboratory of Bromatology (FFUP) and, Department of Pharmacy, and Chemical Laboratory, Health Technology Research Center (CITS) between June 2010 and September 2011.
Methodology: Qualitative phytochemical analysis was done for several phytoconstituents (alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and tannins). Total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents were quantified by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. It was also analyzed the possible correlation between antioxidant activity (in vitro) and the synergistic effect between different phytochemicals, using the free radical 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•).
Results: Steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids and tannin, were present in Melissa officinalis and Matricaria chamomilla. In Olea europaea leaves, all the chemical constituents were present except alkaloids, and terpenoids. Aloysia triphylla showed the presence of all the constituents. Total phenol contents ranged from 12.91mg.100g-1 to 87.25 mg.100g-1 and flavonoid contents ranged from 25.17mg.100g-1 to 57.28mg.100g-1. The screening of the leaf of the four selected medicinal plants indicates that the presence of high phenolic content may be due to the presence of tannins and flavonoids which are known to possess antioxidant activities. A slight correlation has been observed between total phenolics and antioxidant activity.
Conclusion: Our findings provided evidence that aqueous extracts of these tested plants from Portugal contain medicinally important bioactive compounds. Results showed that plants from Portugal usually used as tea infusions are a good source of phytochemical compounds presenting antioxidant activity, so their consumption must be incremented in younger generations which usually consume other less beneficial drinks.