Antioxidant capacity of medicinal plants from the Province of Cordoba (Argentina) and their in vitro testing in a model food system

The total phenols content (Folin-Ciocalteau assay) and antioxidant capacity (ferric reducing/antioxidant power - FRAP) of 41 plants from Cordoba (Argentina) were analyzed. Phenol content ranged from 8.2 to 100.2 mg GAE/g. FRAP ranged from 85.2 to 1862.0 mu mol of Fe(II)/g. Capparis atamisguea had the lowest values of total phenols content and antioxidant capacity (8.2 mg GAE/g and 85.2 mu mol of Fe(II)/g, respectively), while Ligaria cuneifolia exhibited the highest values (100.2 mg GAE/g and 1862.0 mu mol of Fe(II)/g, respectively). A significant linear correlation (p < 0.05) was found (0.9125) between phenols content and antioxidant capacity. Results support the idea that these plants may be a good source of natural antioxidants for food applications. Plants from the Asteraceae family (the most representative of the Cordoba flora) were further tested for their DPPH radical scavenging activity. Some plant extracts were tested in a simple food system to investigate to their potential use in foods. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.