Investigation on the Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Radical Capacities and the Reduction Properties, and the Measurement of the Phenolic and Flavonoid Compound Levels of Alcoholic, Hydro-Alcoholic and Aqueous Extracts of the Galium Aparine L. Plant

The polyphenolic compounds, in particular, the anti-oxidants with herbal sources, constitute an essential part of a human’s nutritional diet. The anti-oxidants are among the agents neutralizing the free radicals and prevent from the prevalence of chronic diseases and destruction of many nutritional substances. These compounds are also extractable from the Galium aparine L. plant. The objective of the present study is to investigate the anti-oxidant, anti-radical capacities and the reduction properties, and the measurement of the phenolic and flavonoid compound levels of alcoholic, hydro-alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the Galium aparine L. plant. After extraction, the total phenolic and flavonoid levels of the extracts were measured. Then, the total anti-oxidant capacity was evaluated on the basis pf comparison to synthetic anti-oxidants (BHA, BHT, and TBHQ) and cupric reduction method (CUPRAC). In final, the anti-radical properties of the extracts and the ferric reducing power of the extracts were measured comparatively. The obtained results of the investigation represented that the highest amount of the total phenol for the aqueous extract equaled to 91.5641 ± 0.035 micrograms of Gallic acid per ml of extract, and the highest amount of flavonoid for an alcoholic extract equaled to 363.733±2.186 micrograms of Quercetin per ml of extract. The results of the comparative assay of the common anti-oxidants represented that the highest anti-oxidant capacity pertained to TBHQ with a level of 1.0211 micrograms per ml, and among the extracts, the highest amount pertained to the aqueous extract (0.1742 micrograms per ml). Comparison between the averages of the main treatments of anti-oxidants in terms of the total anti-oxidant capacity based on CUPRAC method represented that the highest amount pertained to the alcoholic extract (0.3814 micrograms per ml). The highest inhibitory power in the DPPH test pertained to TBHQ and alcoholic extract with amounts of 96.0696 and 96 micrograms per ml respectively. The highest amount for TBHQ in the total reduction test was obtained 2.0590 micrograms per ml. In the results of HPLC spectrum, the highest flavonoid compound of Quercetin type pertained to hydro-alcoholic extract with an amount of 6.681±0.03 mg/L of extract, and the lowest flavonoid compound of Quercetin type pertained to aqueous extract with an amount of 2.2401±0.04 mg/L of extract. According to the examined results, the Galium aparine L. plant having high anti-oxidant properties may be used as a natural anti-oxidant based on different methods. In this regard, the ethanolic extract has the highest efficiency.