Antioxidant Potential and Total Phenolic Compounds of Extracts and Fractions of Pistasia atlantica

Different parts of Pistasia atlantica have been used in traditional medicine for various purposes in Iran. The aim of this study was to measurement and compare antioxidant activity and polyphenolic compounds of crude ethyl alcohol extract and four fractions of P. atlantica leaf. Crude ethyl alcohol extract of P. atlantica leaf was prepared using maceration method and subjected to fractionation with different polarity. The antioxidant potential of all these fractions was evaluated by the 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity method. The total phenolic, flavonoid, and flavonol components were measured with Folin-Ciocaltiue and Chlorid Aluminum methods. According to the radical scavenging capacity, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant activity with IC50 value 1.54±0.12 μg/ml, followed by the chloroform fraction with higher percent inhibition of the DPPH with 3.4±0.11 μg/ml. The results are represented relative to a reference standard, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), with IC50 value of 33.5±3.67μg/ml. Among these fractions, the ethyl acetate fraction and chloroform fraction had the highest amount of total phenolic compounds with value of 532.73 and 355.14 mg GAE/g, respectively. The results of this study showed that some fractions of P. atlantica leaf extract could be used as easily accessible source of natural antioxidants.