Pharmacognostic investigations of the aerial parts of chenopodium foliosum asch. and radical-scavenging activities of five flavonoids isolated from methanol extract of the plant

Abstract

Background: Chenopodium foliosum Asch. also known in Bulgarian folk medicine as garliche or svinski yagodi (swine's berries) has been used as a decoct of aerial parts for treatment of cancer, as antioxidant and immunostimulant. This study was undertaken to investigate its phytochemical, physicochemical and radical-scavenging activities of the aerial parts of the plant. Materials and Methods: Physico-chemical parameters: moisture content, foaming index, total ash, dichloromethane, alcohol and water soluble extractive, pleliminary phytochemical screening and TLC finger print profile were determined. Three new flavonol glycosides, 3-O-ß-gentiobiosides of 6-methoxykaempferol and gomphrenol and a new gomphrenol trioside as well as the known 3-O-ß-gentiobiosides of patuletin and spinacetin, previously isolated from the aerial parts of Chenopodium foliosum Asch., were analyzed for radical-scavenging activity using DPPH-, ABTS-free radicals. Results: The results of physico-chemical parameters showed moisture content-6.05%, foaming index-250, total ash-12.19% and dichloromethane, alcohol and water soluble extractive respectively 2.52%, 13.20% and 12.01%. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the aerial parts of C. foliosum reveals the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, phytosterols, saponins and alkaloids/amines. Patuletine-3-O-gentiobioside showed the highest DPPH (95.03 ± 0.09) and ABTS (87.20 ± 0.13) activity, compared to Vit C. 6-Methoxykaempferol-3-O-gentiobioside showed significant ABTS (81.09 ± 0.06) activity, but DPPH activity was lacking. The other flavonoids showed low DPPH activity, but moderate ABTS activity compared with BHT. Conclusion: The results of this study could be useful for correct identification of the plant and further standardization. In addition this study suggesting that the decoction prepared from C. foliosum could be a potential source of nutraceuticals with radical-scavenging activity.