Determination of in vitro antioxidant activity of the sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) extracts

Abstract

In this study, in vitro antioxidant effects of the acetone, methanol, ethylacetate and water extracts of the aerial parts of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) were investigated. The phenolic content of the extracts were determined by Folin-ciocalteu method and determination of antioxidant activity were carried out by phosphomolybdenum method, β-carotene-linoleate model system, radical scavenging capacity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and reducing power based on the reduction of Fe+3/K3Fe(CN)6 complex to the ferrous state. The study suggested that sainfoin could be pharmaceutically exploited in future researches for its antioxidant properties where acetone and methanol extracts exhibited high antioxidant activity.