Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XVII
Written by Chokri MESSAOUD1, Amina BENABDALLAH2, Mohamed BOUSSAID1
Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) has long been regarded as a food and medicinal plant. The essential oil composition of S. olusatrum leaf, flower and fruit was characterized by high proportion of furanosesquiterpenes (51.66-69.35%).Furthermore, quantitative differences among plant parts were observed for the majority of oil components. Among all organs significant variability in fatty acids composition were also observed. Main constituents were found to be polyunsaturated fatty acids (37.74-49.36%).The total phenolic, flavonoid and carotenoid contents varied significantly between plant parts. Flower extract exhibited the highest contents of total phenolic (48.97 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (52.63 mg RE/g). The β-carotene and lycopene contents were in the range of 4.55-26.14 mg/100g, and 8.00-49.45/100g, respectively. Methanolic extracts and essential oils of different organs were found to possess antioxidant activities, as determined by scavenging effect, chelating activity and β-carotene-linoleic acid model system. Extracts and essential oils showed a strong inhibitory activity against α-amylase. However, the level of biological activity varied according to extracts and organs.
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Antioxidant activity
