Comprehensive appraisement of antioxidant potential and phytochemical profile of native botanicals from Turkey

This study presents the first comprehensive evaluation of antioxidant potential and phytochemical profiling of nine plant taxa utilized in southeastern and eastern parts of Turkey for various medicinal purposes, in order to contribute the scientific database, which was focused on exploring novel candidates of antioxidant agents from natural sources for industry and complementary medicine. Sequential extracts were prepared from plant materials were prepared through treating different solvents (acetone, ethanol, and water) based on polarity index. According to antioxidant assays via hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and single atom transfer (SET) mechanisms, acetone extracts were found as the efficient antioxidant sources. Chromatographic studies revealed that phenolic compounds (mainly 5-O-Caffeoylquinic acid, luteolin hexoside, quercetin and rutin) were characterized as major hydrophilic phytochemical compounds and fatty acids (princibally linolenic, palmitic, and linoleic acids) were found as the major volatile compounds that dominantly contribute to the pronounced antioxidant capacities. According to the chemical structure, catechol moiety containing plant extracts had superior antioxidant capacity both for HAT and SET mechanisms. Data obtained from this study showed that among native botanicals, Crepis hakkarica, Crepis gemicii, Laserpitium carduchorum and Hedysarum vanaense might serve bioactive antioxidant agents both for industrial and pharmaceutical use.