Polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity of some wild Saudi Arabian asteraceae plants

Objective: To study the antioxidant properties of crude extract of different Asteraceae plants. Methods: The antioxidant properties of six extracts were evaluated using different antioxidant tests, including free radical scavenging, reducing power, metal chelation, superoxide anion radical scavenging, total antioxidant capacity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation activities. Results: Picris cyanocarpa P. cyanocarpa) and Anthemis deserti (A. deserti) had powerful antioxidant properties as radical scavenger, reducing agent and superoxide anion radical scavenger while Achillia fragrantissima (A. fragrantissima) and Artemissia monosperrna (A. monosperma) were the most efficient as ion chelator (100% at 100, 200 and 400 mu g/mL) A. frctgrantissima and Rhantariuni appoposurn (R. appoposum) showed 100% inhibition on peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion at 200 and 400 mu g/mL, while butylatedhydroxy toluene and ascorbic acid showed 100 and 95% inhibition percentage at 400 mu g/mL, respectively. Those various antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyl toluene and ascorbic acid. Conclusions: In most tests P. cyanocarpa and A. deserti had powerful antioxidant properties as radical scavenger, reducing agent and superoxide anion radical scavenger.