Nidal Jaradat
1*, Murad Abualhasan
11 Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology Division, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestin
Abstract
Background: Palestine is a rich land with
wild edible plants which used from the ancient times as food and medicine. Arum
is a valuable genus of medicinal plants which is used in the ethnic medicine
for treatment of cancer or consumed as integrated food.
This work aimed to evaluate
and compare the phytoconstituents, total phenols contents and free radical
scavenging potential for Arum dioscoridis, Arum elongatum, Arum
hygrophilum and Arum palaestinum a members of Palestinian flora.
Methods:
Phytoconstituents screened by using
standard analytical methods, total phenols determined by using Folin
Ciocalteu's method and antioxidant
activities were assessed by DPPH assay.
Results:
The crude extracts of Arum plant studied species revealed the presence of
several biologically active phytochemicals with the highest quantity of
saponin, alkaloid, phenols and flavonoids. For A. dioscoridis, A. elongatum, A. hygrophilum and
A. palaestinum free radical scavenging activities were 6.7±0.75µg/ml,
19.9±0.63µg/ml, 9.9±0.49µg/ml, and 6.9±0.62µg/ml respectively, while the IC50
for Trolox was 4.8±0.39µg/ml as well as the total phenols contents for these
species were 60.07 ±0.12, 27.49 ±0.32, 41.75±0.12 and 53.17±0.22 (mg GAE/g
extract), ±SD respectively.
Conclusion:
The antioxidant activities in the studied Arum plant species showed a marked
correlation with their total phenols contents. A. dioscoridis and A.
palaestinum had the highest antioxidant activities with high contents of total
phenols and they can be used as perfect choices for manufacturing of
pharmaceutical, cosmeticeuticals and nutraceutical formulations.