AMARANTHUS AS A SOURCE OF POLYPHENOLIC COMPOUNDS AND FLAVONOIDS FOR USE IN MEDICINE

Abstract

Amaranth is used as a medicinal plant with antioxidant, hemostatic, and wound-healing properties. The aim of the research is the quantitative determination of polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids in ethanolic extracts of amaranth seeds of the "Lera" and "Ultra" varieties and leaves Amaranthus retroflexus. Methods. Extracts were obtained by infusion for 7 days in 70% and 80% ethanol. Quantitative determination of secondary metabolites was conducted by spectrophotometric methods. Results. The largest amount of polyphenolic compounds was found in the ethanolic extract of Amaranthus retroflexus leaves - 0.228 mg/ml. More polyphenols were found in the ethanolic extract of amaranth seeds of the "Lera" variety than in the extract of amaranth seeds of the "Ultra" variety. In the extract of leaves of Amaranthus retroflexus, 2.1 x 10-4 mg/ml of flavonoids were found, in extracts of amaranth seeds were found from 0.7 x 10-5 mg/ml to 1.55 x 10-5 mg/ml of flavonoids. Conclusion. The ethanolic extract of the leaves of Amaranthus retroflexus contains a greater number of investigated secondary metabolites than the extracts of amaranth seeds of the "Lera" and "Ultra" varieties. The ethanol extract of amaranth seeds of the "Lera" variety contains more polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids than the ethanol extract of amaranth seeds of the "Ultra" variety.

Keywords

• amaranthus
• phenols
• flavonoids
• wound healing activity.