PHENOLIC CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF WATER EXTRACTS FROM ROSA DAMASCENA PETALS GROWN IN KAZANLAK VALLEY, BULGARIA

The current study aimed to evaluate the phenolic content, total flavonoid content, as well as the antioxidant activity in water extracts obtained from Rosa damascena petals grown in Kazanlak valley, Stara Zagora region. Bulgaria. The rose samples were collected during May 2019 from the plantations in Skobelevo, Asen, lasenovo, and Koprinka villages grown under different conditions. The contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids in the water extracts from rose petals were determined Additionally, the antioxidant activity of rose water extracts was evaluated by four reliable methods: 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAM and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) assays. The highest values of total phenols and flavonoids were found in the rosewater extract from organically grown plantation: 47.09 +/- 2.89 mg GAE/g thy weight and 6.87 +/- 3.00 mg QE/g thy weight, respectively. The highest radical scavenging activity demonstrated the extracts from organic plantations, while the metal-reducing assays showed higher antioxidant potentials in the extracts from conventionally grown roses. The results demonstrated the potential application of these edible flowers rose extracts as ingredients or additives for food and cosmetic purposes with the potential antioxidative properties.