Antioxidant potentials and anticholinesterase activities of methanolic and aqueous extracts of three endemic Centaurea L. species

WOS: 000317536900038
PubMed: 23357566
The methanol and aqueous extracts of three endemic Centaurea species (C. polypodiifolia var. pseudobehen, C pyrrhoblephara and C antalyense) were investigated for their antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory activities. The antioxidant activities of these extracts were evaluated by in vitro models including, phosphomolybdenum assay, free radical scavenging assays (DPPH and ABTS), beta-carotene/linoleic acid test system, metal chelating assay, FRAP assay, ferric and cupric reducing power. Cholinesterase inhibitory activities were examined using Ellman's calorimetric method. Total phenol, flavonoid, and saponin contents were also measured. Among the six Centaurea extracts evaluated, the highest antioxidant abilities were obtained from C polypodiifolia var. pseudobehen. Methanolic extracts from C polypodiifolia var. pseudobehen and C antalyense had a noticeable inhibition towards AChE and BChE. These findings suggest that Centaurea species could be an anticholinesterase agent and antioxidant resource in some industries, such as food, pharmacology, and cosmetics. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selcuk University Scientific Research Foundation (BAP); [11401066]
This study was supported financially as a project (11401066). The authors thank Selcuk University Scientific Research Foundation (BAP) for providing financial support for this study. The authors also want to thank Dr. Harun Simsek for proofreading the present manuscript.