The antioxidant activities of four Lamiaceae plants, Salvia viridis L., Salvia multicaulis Vahl, Stachys byzantina C. Koch and Eremostachys laciniata (L.) Bunge have been determined by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) as well as by flow injection analysis-luminol chemiluminescence (FIA-CL). All extracts were shown to possess a significant scavenger activity against DPPH free radical and an inhibitory effect on H2O2- or HOCl-luminol chemiluminescence. The extracts scavenged 50% of DPPH radical ranging in the following descending order: Salvia viridis > Stachys byzantina > Salvia multicaulis > Eremostachys laciniata. The most potent extract on H2O2-induced peak chemiluminescence was that of Salvia viridis and on HOCl-induced peak chemiluminescence was that of Stachys byzantina. The results concluded that the extracts have a potential source of antioxidants of natural origin.
Copyright 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.