Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine

Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine

The antioxidant and Flavonoids contents of Althaea officinalis L. flowers based on their color

Document Type : Short communication

Authors
Parisa Sadighara 1
Soraya Gharibi 2
Amir Moghadam Jafari 3
Golamreza Jahed Khaniki 1
Samira Salari 4
1 Department of Environmental Health, Food Safety Division, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I. R. Iran
2 Academic Center of Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, I. R. Iran
3 Department of Toxicology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, I. R. Iran
4 Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, I. R. Iran
10.22038/ajp.2012.82
Abstract
Objective: There has been a growing interest in finding plants with biological active ingredients for medicinal application.
Materials and Methods: Three colors of petals of Althaea officinalis (A. officinalis) flowers, i.e., pink, reddish pink, and white were examined for total antioxidant activity and flavonoids content.
Results: The reddish pink flowers of A. officinalis have more antioxidant activity and the power of antioxidant activity was reddish pink > pink > white.
Conclusion: Findings suggest that the dark color can serve as an indicator of antioxidant content of the plant. Flavonoid content was highest in white flower thus this result indicated that flowers with light color can be considered for medicinal uses.
 
Keywords
Antioxidant Capability
Petals Color
Total Flavonoids
Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine
Volume 2, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
May and June 2012
Pages 113-117