Chemical Analysis of the Flavonoid,Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Chaerophyllum macropodum (Boiss.) Extract

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

Flavonoids are secondary metabolites produced mainly in almost all terrestrial plants and fruits,
where they provide UV protection and color. They have a fused ring system consisting of an aromatic
ring and a benzopyran ring with a phenyl substituent. Their biological activities have an impact on
human health so that they serve as target molecules to develop new drugs. From methanolic extract
of aerial parts of Chaerophyllum macropodum (Boiss.) (Umbelliferae family), a diglycosylated
flavonoid derivative namely 4΄,5-O-dirhamnosid-3’-butanoat-7-hydroxyflavone and a phthalic acid
ester namely dioctylphthalate have been isolated by column chromatography (CC) and preparative
TLC. Those structures were elucidated by UV, 1H- and 13C- NMR, HMBC, EI-MS and IR spectra.
The antimicrobial activity of the methanol and aqueous extracts of aerial part were determined against
seven Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus
aureus, S. epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae),
as well as three fungi (Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger). The
bioassay showed that both extracts exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity. The antioxidant activity
of methanol and aqueous extracts was evaluated by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method.
The results indicate that methanol extract from aerial parts of C. macropodum possess considerable
antioxidant activity. The highest radical scavenging activity was detected (IC50 = 65 μg/mL). This
study reveals that the methanolic extract of this plant is attractive sources of flavonoid, especially the
essential ones, as well as of effective natural antioxidants.

Keywords