Flavonoids content in methanolic extract of Equisetum arvense L.(Horsetail) from Kurdistan region - Iraq

Background:The ferns are well known that they are  a rich sources to bioactive compounds mainly flavonoid groups which are very important  to protect these plants from environmental stresses.                                     Objective: The object of this work is to determine chemical content (total flavonoids) in methanol extract of Equisetum arvense L. Family Equisetaceae.                                                                                                Methods: mature sporophyte of the fern was collected from Chemi Rezan region in Sulaimaniyah district during May 2016. The methanol extract of the fern was prepared by using Soxhulet apparatus to be used for phytochemical analysis.             Resulrs: The outcome of the qualitative analysis for E. arvense extract had showed that the fern was containing active compounds which involve: alkaloids, saponins, tanins and four flavonoids which were identified as: kaempferol, aempferol-O-3- glycoside, leutolin, and querctin in E. arvense  by using HPLC technique . In fact the main compound leutolin (100.6 µg/ ml) was recorded quit high concentration.  The results were showed that total flavonoids made up almost (179.5 µ/ ml).                                     Conclusion: It was found that total flavonoid have positive correlation with the environment in the studied region.