Antioxidant activity and proline content of leaf extracts from Dorystoechas hastate

Dorystoechas hastata (D. hastata) is a monotypic plant endemic to Antalya province of Turkey. D. hastata leaves are used to make a tea locally called "çalba tea". Diethyl ether (E), ethanol (A), and water (W) were used for the sequential preparation of extracts from dried D. hastata leaves. A hot water extract (S) was also prepared by directly boiling the powdered plant in water. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were tested by ferric thiocyanate (FTC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging methods. E extract exhibited the greatest antioxidant activity with FTC method, whereas S extract exhibited the lowest IC50 value (6.17±0.53μg/ml) for DPPH radical scavenging activity. Total phenolic contents of the extracts were estimated by Folin-Ciocalteu method and S extract was found to contain the highest amount (554.17±20.83mg GAE/g extract) of phenolics. Extract A contained highest flavonoid content and there was a inverse linear correlation (R(2)=0.926) between IC50 values for DPPH radical scavenging activity and flavonoid contents of all extracts. Reducing power of extracts increased in a concentration-dependent manner. S extract was found to possess higher reducing power than equivalent amount of ascorbic acid at 20 and 25μg/ml concentrations. Linear correlation between reducing power and concentration of E, A, and W extracts (R(2)>0.95) was observed. A, W, and S extracts contained relatively high levels of proline. The results presented suggest that D. hastata may provide a natural source of antioxidants and proline.