Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XIX
Written by Cornelia NICHITA, Georgeta NEAGU, Ana CUCU, Virginia VULTURESCU
Cynara scolymus L. is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family and is one of the most common and important medicinal plants used of the Mediterranean etnopharmacy. In folk medicine Cynara scolymus L. leaf extracts have been widely used as astringent, blood cleanser, cardiotonic, detoxifier, digestive stimulant, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic because was proved to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis and LDL oxidation. In the present study we investigated the antioxidant characteristics, of most chemical important constituents of extracts from leaves of Cynara scolymus L. (phenolic and flavonoid compounds, amino acids,) as well as of selective extracts obtained after technological processes (filtration, concentration, separation, precipitation). Antioxidant properties was studied using the chemiluminescence technique and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. The total flavonoids and polyphenols content was spectrophotometrically determined according to Romanian Pharmacopoea (FR). In addition the viability of cells were detected by MTS - assay that emphasize significant stimulation of the growth of mouse fibroblast 3T3 in a dose-dependent manner.
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chemiluminescence
