Objective : To investigate the
in vitro antioxidant activity of the hydromethanolic extract of aerial parts (leaves and stems) of
Globularia alypum
L. toward linoleic acid emulsion and human low-density lipoproteins (LDL) peroxidation.
Materials and Methods : Lipid peroxidation was carried out in the presence of
G. alypum hydromethanolic extract (10 and 100 µg of extract/ml). CuSO
4 (10 µM) was used as the oxidation initiator. Conjugated dienes (CD) formation and oxygen consumption were assessed for monitoring the antioxidant properties of the plant extract. Butylated hydroxytoluene at 50 µg/ml was used as standard antioxidant. Quantification of total polyphenolic compounds was carried out according to the Folin-Ciocalteu method.
Results : The hydromethanolic extract of
G. alypum exhibited significant antioxidant effect. There was a significant inhibition of CD formation in copper ions-mediated linoleic acid emulsion as well as human LDL peroxidation. Analysis of the plant extract revealed a high amount of polyphenols, suggesting a possible role of these compounds in the antioxidant properties.
Conclusion : The obtained results suggested that
G. alypum could be a potential source of antioxidants. Further investigations are in progress to determine the active constituent(s).