Phenolic content and antioxidant activity in medicinal raw material of introduced Artemisia L. species in Lithuania

Abstract

In the last decade, special attention has been paid to Artemisia (L.) genus plants, the possibilities of using their medicinal raw material for therapeutic purposes. The aim of the research was to determine the variability of the phenolic compounds in the medicinal raw material of four introduced Artemisia L. species and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of extracts in vitro. The highest total amount of phenolic compounds (297.37±9.18 mg RE/g DW) and flavonoids (77.73±7.40 mg RE/g DW) evaluated via spectrophotometry was detected in Artemisia annua L. medicinal raw material samples. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of individual phenolics in the samples of Artemisia extracts was carried out by applying the HPLC method. In the studied extracts, the predominant phenolic compounds were chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. It was determined that the methanol extracts of A. annua medicinal raw material have the strongest antiradical and reducing properties.