The histo-anatomical investigation and the polyphenolic profile of antioxidant complex active ingredients from three viola species

Abstract

In the present study three edible species of the Violaceae family (Viola odorata L., Viola tricolor L. and Viola wittrockiana Gams.) were screened in order to assess their morphological and anatomical characteristics, their polyphenolic contents and their antioxidant activities. The dried herbal drugs were lyophilized and underwent pre-treatment for high pressure liquid chromatography. Thus 6 flavonoids and 6 phenolic acids were quantitatively determined. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using several methods: FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and CUPRAC (cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity) assay. The polyphenolic profile revealed the presence of common components between species such as rutin, myricetin, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, vanillic acid and other compounds such as catechin, luteolin, epicatechin, naringenin, syringic acid and caffeic acid, specific only in some of the studied species.