Tlc-densitometric and colorimetric determination of aescin in aesculus hippocastanum l. Seeds, collected from different regions of Turkey

Aesculus hippocastanum L. grows in different regions in Turkey as an ornamental tree. Aescin, a triterpenic saponosides mixture obtained from the seeds of A hippocastanum, was quantitatively determined by the colorimetric method mentioned in DAB 9 and by an optical densitometric method for comparison. Semen Hippocastani, collected from different regions and stabilized at different temperatures was studied for its aescin content comparatively. The highest amount of aescin was found in the samples collected from Eskişehir and dried at 40 °C. Colorimetric method had higher accuracy than dansitometricmethod for determining aescin content

?-tocopherol, flavonoid, and phenol contents and antioxidant activity of Ficus carica leaves

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the ?-tocopherol content and to investigate the antioxidant capacities of the extracts prepared from the leaves of Ficus carica L. (Moraceae). The antioxidant capacities of the extracts were evaluated by the phosphomolibdenum spectrophotometric method. ?-Tocopherol content was determined by using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV method. Total flavonoid content was determined by using the aluminium chloride method. Total phenol content was estimated by a modified colorimetric method using Folin-Ciocalteau reagent. The results clearly demonstrate that these extracts have antioxidant capacity. Antioxidant capacity results are consistent with total flavonoid and phenol contents. The ?-tocopherol content of the n-hexane extract was found to be 3.2788%, whereas it was calculated as 0.0570% on the dry-weight basis of the leaves. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Ltd