Phytochemical components, total phenol and mineral contents and antioxidant activity of six major medicinal plants from Rayen, Iran

Abstract

<p>The aim of this work was to evaluate the phytochemical components, minerals, the antioxidant activity and total phenol contents of the essential oil from aerial parts of six major medicinal plants in Rayen, Iran. The plants included <i>Ranunculus arvensis</i>, <i>Teucrium polium</i>, <i>Dracocephalum polychaetum</i>, <i>Kelussia odoratissima</i>, <i>Artemisia sieberi</i> and <i>Thymus kotschyanus</i>. Total phenol content ranged from 0.03 to 0.158 mg/mL. <i>A. sieberi</i> showed the highest radical scavenging ability (IC₅₀ = 94 μg/mL). The amount of minerals ranged as follows: P (0.23–29%), K (1.08–4.76%), Ca (0.78–2.35%), Mg (0.24–0.94%), Cu (8.3–15 mg/kg), Cd (0.7–1.1 mg/kg), Pb (2–11.7 mg/kg) and Fe (250–1280 mg/kg). A total of 79 compounds were identified across all plants. The main components studied in the plants were l-perillaldehyde, biosol, carvacrol, 1,8-cineol, terpinyl acetate and 1,2,3,6,7,7 a-hexahydro-5 h-inden 5-one.</p