INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS TREATMENTS ON THE LEVEL OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS, BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL IN ALLIUM URSINUM L. LEAVES

Abstract

Allium ursinum L. is a perennial plant species that has been exploited for many years in traditional medicine for both preventive and therapeutic purposes. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of bioactive compounds, including total phenols and total flavonoids, as well as the antioxidant capacity (measured by DPPH and FRAP assays), and the content of photosynthetic pigments in A. ursinum L. plants found in the North-West region of Romania. There was also a comparison between the fresh sample and two treatments, freezing and dehydration, to see how they affected bioactive compounds, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant capacity. The fresh leaves of. A. ursinum L. (AU_F) contain a total phenolic compound of 2.24±0.06 mg GAE/g and a total flavonoid content of 10.69 ± 0.013 mg QE/g. Freezing preservation does not significantly change the average amount of total phenolic compounds in comparison to freshly harvested leaves, with the exception of the flavonoid content. However, there is a significantly increase in the content of bioactive compounds following the dehydration process of the leaves because of the removal of water. The leaves of A. ursinum L. can be used to produce functional foods and natural dietary supplements, which are important for improving human health.