Determination of the total content of metals, polyphenols, flavonoids and the antioxidant capacity of methanolic and chloroformic extracts from Cichorium intybus

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the metal content, total polyphenols, and flavonoids in the plant Cichorium intybus L gathered from Bihor, Romania, and to emphasize the antioxidant activity of its bioactive constituents. The materials and methods involved the extraction of two types of extracts from the Cichorium intybus L plant using the Soxhlet extraction method. The extracts were prepared using two different solvents, namely 50% methanol and chloroform. The purpose of this extraction was to assess and compare the total phenolic and flavonoid content, as well as to determine the antioxidant capacity of the extracts using the DPPH and FRAP methods. The methanolic chicory extract had a higher total content of polyphenolic compounds (57.98 ± 0.60 mg GAE/g dry floss) and flavonoids (5.94 ± 0.08 mg QE/g dry floss) compared to the chloroform extract (55.28 ± 1.11 mg GAE/g dry floss) and (5.54 ± 0.13 mg QE/g dry floss). This indicates that methanol is a more effective solvent for extraction than chloroform. The results of the study indicate that the chloroform chicory extract exhibited a higher percentage of inhibition (74.10 ± 0.22%) compared to the methanolic extract (67.47 ± 0.65%) when tested for antioxidant capacity using the DPPH method. Conversely, the methanol extract from chicory demonstrated a higher antioxidant capacity (856.80 µmol TE/g dry chicory) than the chloroform extract (771 µmol TE/g dry chicory) according to the FRAP method. The Cichorium intybus L plant has the potential to yield phytopharmaceutical compounds that can help maintain or enhance human health.

Keywords

• cichorium intybus l
• antioxidant capacity
• polyphenols
• flavonoids