Plants (Jun 2023)

Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Potential of Selected Extracts from <i>Betula alba</i> var. <i>pendula</i> Roth., <i>Glycyrrhiza glabra</i> L., and <i>Avena sativa</i> L.

  • Adelina Ghica,
  • Veronica Drumea,
  • Alina Moroșan,
  • Dan Eduard Mihaiescu,
  • Liliana Costea,
  • Emanuela Alice Luță,
  • Dragos Paul Mihai,
  • Dalila Teodora Balaci,
  • Ancuța Cătălina Fița,
  • Octavian Tudorel Olaru,
  • Rica Boscencu,
  • Cerasela Elena Gîrd

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132510
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 13
p. 2510

Abstract

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The aim of the present study was to obtain, characterize, and evaluate the antioxidant potential of some extracts obtained from the bark of Betula alba var. pendula Roth., the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra L., and the green herb of the Avena sativa. The results revealed that the lowest IC50 value, determined by all three methods, was obtained for Betulae extractum (BE) (73.6 µg/mL—DPPH method, 11.2 µg/mL—ABTS method, and 58.7 µg/mL—FRAP method), followed by Liquiritiae extractum (LE) (805.6 µg/mL, 92.1 µg/mL, and 722 µg/mL) and Avenae extractum (1.13 mg/mL—DPPH method, 99.7 µg/mL—ABTS method, and 135.1 µg/mL—FRAP method). These results correlate with total polyphenols content (expressed in g tannic acid/100 g dry extract), with BE having more polyphenols than LE and AE (47.96 ± 9.7083 for BE, compared with 9.31 ± 0.9913 for LE and 40.55 ± 6.3715 for AE). The total flavonoid content (expressed as g rutoside/100 g dry extract) is similar for BE and LE (3.75 ± 0.3140 and 3.44 ± 0.3037) and smaller for AE (1.95 ± 0.0526). Therefore, Betulae extractum has the strongest antioxidant action, with an IC50 value very close to the standard used as a reference (ascorbic acid—16.5 μg/mL solution). The FT-ICR-MS analysis confirmed the presence of the major compounds in all three extracts. The antioxidant properties of the studied extracts were further supported by molecular docking experiments that revealed the potential of the analyzed phytochemicals to act as both noncovalent and covalent activators of the Nrf2 signaling pathway, with promising benefits in treating various skin disorders.

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