Free Radical Scavenging Properties and LC/MS Analysis of Bulgarian Crataegus Oxycantha Fruits Ethanol Extract

Investigations on procyanidin profile on Bulgarian Crataegus oxycantha fruits extract has been carried out by different analytical approaches based on chromatographic methods. We retained of interest to test the validity of direct infusion of Crataegus extract in ESI conditions to achieve an immediate fingerprinting of the procyanidins therein contained. The results are compared with those obtained by classical HPLC/MS approach. The antioxidant properties of Crataegus extract on iron-dependant lipid peroxidation and on UV irradiation induced deoxyribose oxidation were investigated. On the basis of the experimental data C-50 value was calculated: 0.70 ± 0.02 mg/ml and 0.26 ± 0.01 mg/ml for LP and UV irradiation systems respectively. The LP measured for the same model system but in the presence of six of the main biologically active Crataegus fruits extract components proved by GC/MS analysis. We identified poliphenols in this extract and we proved the antioxidant effect in two biologically relevant systems.