Comparative characteristics of spectrophotometric methods for determining the in vitro antioxidant activity of plant extracts

Abstract

The article discusses the possibilities of comparing the results of determining the total antioxidant activity (AOA) using three spectrophotometric methods: DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP. The obtained values were compared and revealed a high correlation for all pairs of comparisons as well as a close precision of the AOA content in plant extracts, regardless of the extractant or method of determination. The reliable AOA content in the regional flora was determined and varied in a very wide range from 1.44±0.12 to 1094.02±14.53 μmol TE/g DW plant material, with methanol extracts having the highest AOA concentration. Among 14 species of medicinal and protected plants of the Kaliningrad region, Alnus glutinosa L., Filipendula ulmaria L. N Calluna vulgaris L., a Valeriana officinalis L. N Sedum acre L. had the highest AOA.