Antioxidant activities and phytochemical study of extracts of two phagnalons species growing in Algeria

The presence of natural antioxidant in plants is well known. Plant phenolics constitute one of the major groups of components that act as primary antioxidant free radical terminators. The antioxidant properties of aerial parts of two species of phagnalons, phagnalon saxatile and phagnalon sordidum were investigated. The amounts of total phenolics and flavonoids in the ethanolic extract were determined spectrometrically. From the analyses, the ethanolic extract of p. saxatile had the highest total phenolic content and highest antioxidant activity, using DPPH and ferric reducing antioxidant power methods. Finally, a relationship was observed between the antioxidant activity potential and total phenolic and flavonoid levels of the extract. These results demonstrate that ethanolic extract and their derived phytochemicals of phagnalons aerial parts have excellent antioxidant activities and thus they have great potential as sources for natural health products.