engleski

Thymus longicaulis C. Presl – phenol rich species in Croatian flora

Thymus longicaulis C. Presl (Lamiaceae) is a small aromatic perennial herb and a typical representative of the Illyric-Mediterranean flora. It is a traditional remedy for cold, flu, cough, nephritis and abdominal pain. Thymus species have been investigated for their chemical composition and biological activities in order to find the possibility of their use in modern phytotherapy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the phenolic content and antiradical activity of the aerial parts of T. longicaulis growing in Croatia. The results were compared with those obtained for commercially available Thymi vulgaris herba, officially recognized in modern pharmacopoeias. The presence of various bioactive compounds was detected by thin layer chromatography. Total polyphenol (3.72%), tannin (1.34%) and flavonoid (0.39%) contents of T. longicaulis were spectrophotometrically determined. According to procedures described in European Pharmacopoeia, the contents of essential oil and volatile phenols in aerial parts were found to be 1.65% and 0.65%, respectively. Free radical scavenging activities of ethanolic extracts were evaluated using DPPH and deoxyribose assays. T. longicaulis contained significantly higher amounts of phenolics and exhibited better antiradical activity then T. vulgaris. Our findings highlighted T. longicaulis of Croatian origin as a rich source of phenolic antioxidants.

Thymus longicaulis; phenols; antiradical activity

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