TOTAL PHENOLS CONTENT, FLAVONOID CONCENTRATION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF LEAVES EXTRACTS OF VITEX AGNUS-CASTUS L. GROWING WILD IN MOROCCO

Vitex agnus-castus L. (Verbenaceae) commonly known as Chaste tree. is a shrub widely distributed in the Middle East and Southern Europe. Traditionally used for the treatment of several health problems and symptoms. such as premenstrual ones and spasmodic dysmenorrhea, certain menopausal conditions, insufficient lactation, and acne. Several reports have indicated that Vitex agnus-castus contained flavonoids, diterpenoids, and essential oils. To our knowledge. no data are available on the antioxidant activities of Moroccan Vitex agnus-castus. This work aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity of four extracts from leaves of Vitex agnus-castus growing wild in Morocco. Photochemical tests of the extracts (ethanol. methanol, ethyl acetate, and water) were carried out qualitatively for the presence of Alkaloids. Tannins. Anthraquinones. Terpenes, and saponins. Invitro antioxidant activity. total phenols content and total flavonoid content of different extracts were determined using spectrophotometric methods. The total phenolic content ranged from (10 +/- 0.2 to 53.33 +/- 1.38 mgEq GAE/g DW). and the total flavonoid concentrations varied from (13.66 +/- 0.33 to 95.33 mg RE/gDW). Ethanolic extract of Vitex agnus-castus leaves has shown the highest phenols and flavonoid concentrations and strong antioxidant activity. A very strong positive correlation between the total antioxidant activity of the extracts and their content of phenols and flavonoids (P<0.05) is observed. Therefore, Moroccan Vitex agnus-castus L. can be regarded as promising candidates for natural plant sources of antioxidants with high value.