Antioxidant properties and phenolic composition of Sideritis species

The antioxidant properties and phenolic composition of 27 Sideritis species were studied. Plant samples were extracted with petroleum ether using a Soxhlet apparatus. The defatted plant materials were extracted with 70% methanol. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were measured using Fe+2 induced linoleic acid peroxidation, as indicated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) production. Free radical scavenging activities were determined based on 1, 1 -diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). Results were compared with standard BHT. Totalphenol concentration of the extracts was estimated with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent using gallic acid as standard, and phenolic components were quantified by HPLC-DAD.