The effect of Chitosan on antioxidant activity and some secondary metabolites of Mentha piperita L.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Sima Salimgandomi
• Azita Shabrangi

Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Islamic Azad University-Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch (IAUPS), Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Plants are almost reach sources of phenolic compounds such as flavonoids which are the most important
natural antioxidants. Antioxidant compounds are essential for protecting human body against oxidative
stress. However use elicitors could increase the antioxidant activity of plant. The purpose of this study
was to evaluate the effects of Chitosan on the content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds and also
antioxidant activity Mentha piperita L.In this study, firstly the Mentha piperita L. were grown up for 6-week
period at greenhouse conditions and then were treated with 50-100 μm of chitosan, then total phenolic and
flavonoid contents were determined using spectrophotometry and finally antioxidant activities of extracts
were evaluated with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) method and the results were analyzed with
Excel software and Variance analysis testing method with SPSS software. The results showed the content
of phenolic compounds in the methanol extract based on sample mg of Gallic acid /g for control with
water, 50μm and 100μm treatments respectively were 146.8,233.1,339.1. Meanwhile the total volume
of flavonoid content of the methanol extract per mg of Rutin/g respectively were 9.88,12.11,14.06 and
concentration of the said extracts respectively were 196.3,147.7,128.62. In regard to the above results
it can be concluded that due to having phenolic and flavonoid contents, Mentha piperita L showed that
antioxidant activity could be stimulated upon Chitosan treatment moreover, antioxidant activity increased
by increasing Chitosan treatment content. Therefore, this method can be used to increase antioxidant effect
of plant as a natural antioxidant and all the phenolic and flavonoid contents.

Keywords

• Mentha piperita L
• Antioxidant
• Chitosan
• Phenolic content
• Flavonoid content

Main Subjects

• Pharmacognosy

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