STUDIES ON ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF THE DIFFERENT SOLVENT EXTRACTS AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF HYOSCYAMUS RETICULATUS L.

Hyoscyamus reticulatus (Solanaceae) is distributed in the Mediterranean, East and Central Anatolia regions of Turkey. In the present study, antioxidant properties of the various extracts of H. reticulatus were evaluated by seven different chemical assays, namely total phenolics and flavonoids content, total antioxidant capacity, free radical (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl)-scavenging assay, beta-carotene/linoleic acid test system, and ferric- and cupric ion-reducing power. The strongest antioxidant properties were obtained by ethanolic extract. The order of the antioxidant properties of extracts were ethanolic > methanolic > acetone. Fatty acid composition of the aerial parts of H. reticulatus was analyzed by gas chromatography. The main fatty acids of the oil gave the proportions C 12:0 (lauric acid), C 10:0 (capric acid) and C 11:0 (undecanoic acid). Results of the present study demonstrated that the extracts and oil of H. reticulatus may be used as a source of natural antioxidant and lauric acid in the food and pharmaceutical industries. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Hyoscyamus species contain important tropane alkaloids, which have antispasmodic, anticholinergic, analgesic and sedative effects. In this study, antioxidant properties of the various extracts of Hyoscyamus reticulatus were investigated by seven different chemical assays. The results of the present study may be important as an indication of pharmacological and food processing utility of the plant. H. reticulatus can be considered as a source of both natural antioxidants and lauric acid in food industry and pharmacological applications.