THE EFFECTS OF DRYING METHODS ON TOTAL PHENOLIC AND FLAVONOID SUBSTANCES AND ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF REDSTEM FILAREE (ERODIUM CICUTARIUM)

Abstract

In this study, the effects of some drying techniques on antioxidant activity of the Erodium cicutarium (L.) L’Her plant, which has ethnobotanical and medical importance, were investigated. The plant samples were divided into three groups; the group dried in sunlight (SD), the group dried in a thermostatic oven at 55 °C (OD) and the group dried in the shade (DS). Total phenolic substance amounts were determined as 41.27 ± 2.93 mg GAE/g in DS, 15.14 ± 2.25 mg GAE/g in SD and 14.60 ± 0.86 mg GAE/g in OD, respectively. The highest amount of flavonoid substance was determined as 71.99 ± 2.24 mg QE/g in the OD group. The IC50 value, from smallest to largest, was found to be 49.47 ± 2.69 µg/mL in DS, 71.90 ± 1.69 µg/mL in SD, and 89.81 ± 3.42 µg/mL in OD. In addition, it was determined that the highest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and the highest Fe3+-Fe2+ reducing capacity were in DS at all concentrations. As a result, it was revealed that the use of shade drying technique would be advantageous in case the E. cicutarium plant was stored by drying, and the total amount of flavonoid substances was affected by the drying time.