Antioxidant and anti-glycation activities correlates with phenolic composition of tropical medicinal herbs

Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2013 Jul;6(7):561-9. doi: 10.1016/S1995-7645(13)60097-8.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the contribution of total phenolic content (TPC) in glycation inhibitory activity of common tropical medicinal food and spices with potential antioxidative properties.

Methods: In vitro glucose-bovine serum albumin (BSA) assay was used. Ethanolic extracts of ten common household condiments/herbs (Allium sativum, Zingiber officinale, Thymus vulgaris, Petroselinum crispum, Murraya koenigii Spreng, Mentha piperita L., Curcuma longa L., Allium cepa L., Allium fistulosum and Coriandrum sativum L.) were evaluated for antioxidative activity by 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the TPC, flavonoid and tannins content were determined.

Results: Findings showed good correlation between TPC/DPPH (r = 0.8), TPC/FRAP (r = 0.8), TPC/anti-glycation (r = 0.9), DPPH/anti-glycation (r = 0.6), FRAP/anti-glycation (r = 0.9), Flavonoid/anti-glycation (r = 0.7) and Tannins/anti-glycation (r = 0.8) and relatively fair correlation for TPC/Flavonoids (r = 0.5) and TPC/Tannins (r = 0.5). Results imply that these plants are potential sources of natural antioxidants which have free radical scavenging activity and might be used for reducing oxidative stress.

Conclusions: The positive glycation inhibitory and antioxidative activities of these tropical herbs suggest a possible role in targeting ageing, diabetic complications and oxidative stress related diseases.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / analysis*
  • Biphenyl Compounds / analysis
  • Condiments / analysis*
  • Flavonoids / analysis
  • Glycosylation / drug effects
  • Phenols / analysis*
  • Picrates / analysis
  • Plants, Edible / chemistry*
  • Plants, Medicinal*
  • Spices / analysis
  • Tannins / analysis

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Flavonoids
  • Phenols
  • Picrates
  • Tannins
  • 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl