Antioxidant activity of Plantago bellardii All.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Plantago bellardii All. aerial parts. This was assessed by two different tests, scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation on liposomes prepared from bovine brain extract. In both tests the extract showed a potent antioxidant effect. The characterization of the major compounds in the extract as rutin, geniposide and verbascoside was performed by isolation and HPLC comparison with authentic samples. They were quantified by HPLC for the flavonoids and colorimetry for iridoids. The compounds that contribute most to the antioxidant activity were shown to be verbascoside and rutin.