Polyphenols Content and Antioxidant Activities of Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg (Dandelion) Leaves

Plant of genus Taraxacum known as dandelion have long been used in tradition medicinal. Extracts from dandelion possess anti-influenza virus, anti-fertility and anti-retrovirus activity, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects. Chicoric acid also known as dicaffeyltartaric acid and belongs to phenylpropanoids is one of the main constituent of T. officinale. The current investigation was conducted to determinate the total polyphenols and total dihydroxycinnamic derivatives contents, and to evaluate the antioxidant capacities in aqueous and ethanol-water extracts prepared from T. officinale leaves. Total phenolic content was determined by using the Folin-Ciocalteau method. The antioxidant capacities in the forms of DPPH, FRAP and CuPRAC were evaluated by spectrophotometric methods. The results indicated that TPC, chicoric acid concentration, DPPH, FRAP and CuPRAC values were higher in 50% ethanol extract of T. officinale leaves: 33.90 ± 0.57 mg GAE/ g DW, 3.1 g/ 100g DW, 136.3 mM TE/ g DW (DPPH method), 131.5 mM TE / g DW (FRAP method) and 407.8 mM TE/ g DW (CuPRAC method). The results clearly demonstrated the Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg leaves are rich source of polyphenols possess high antioxidant properties. The high yield of cichoric acid make this plant valuable source of commercial production.