Czech Medicinal Plants as Possible Sources of Antioxidants

Buřičová L., Réblová Z. (2008): Czech medicinal plants as possible sources of antioxidants. Czech J. Food Sci., 26: 132–138. The antioxidant activity of 17 Czech medicinal plants was studied and compared with the antioxidant activity of green tea. The antioxidant activities of water and ethanol extracts of the plants tested were determined by a spectrophotometric method using the stable free radical DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), and further the contents of the compounds with reducing properties in water extracts were determined by flow injection analysis with amperometric detection (using a detection potential +0.7 V). Considerable antioxidant activities were found in the extracts of plants from the Rosaceae family (rosehips and leaves of raspberry, blackberry, and strawberry), the Lamiaceae family (oregano, sweet balm, thyme, dead-nettle, and mint), and flowers of linden and elder.