Phytochemical properties and antioxidant capacities of some Campanula species from Turkey

Campanula species belong to the genus Campanulaceae and are generally known as "bell flower". The species are traditionally used as antiphlogistic, diuretic, antidiabetic and for the treatment of constipation and broncihitis. In this study, total phenolic substance, total flavonoid, total anthocyanin, total chlorophyll and total carotenoid contents of aerial parts of C. cymbalaria, C. davisii (endemic), C. peregrina and C. stricta var. libanotica were investigated by using UV-Visible spectrophotometer. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content and the phenolic contents of the specified species were investigated by using the HPLC-DAD method. The antioxidant capacities of methanol extracts and ethyl acetate fractions were determined spectrophotometrically by following DPPH, FRAP, Superoxide and ABTS methods. The total amount of phenolic substances in the ethyl acetate fractions varies between 58.54 and 92.58 mg GAE/g extract. The total amount of flavonoids in the ethyl acetate fractions ranged from 22.41 to 52.74 mg CE/g extract. Antioxidant activity was observed in all of the investigated species. C. peregrina was found to be rich in phenolics, flavonoids and anthocyanins and have the highest capacity in all of the antioxidant activity determination methods. This is the first study on those Campanula species that covers the phytochemical properties and antioxidant capacities.