EVALUATION OF TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT, TOTAL FLAVONOIDS CONTENT AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY OF LEPIDIUM SATIVUM L. SEEDS AND LEAVES PLANTED IN SYRIA

Most of previous research has focused on the seeds of Lepidium sativum L., whereas few
ones were interested in the chemical content of its leaves. This research study determines total
phenolic content, total flavonoids content in the methanolic and chloroformic extracts for the
seeds and leaves of Lepidium sativum. Antioxidant activity of the previous extracts has also
been evaluated by determining free radicals (DPPPH assay) scavenging activity. The results
have shown that the methanolic and chloroformic extracts from seeds has phenolic content
about (1043± 0.16mg GAE\100g) and (306.12± 0.12mg GAE\100g) respectively. Whereas,
lower quantities were found in leaves (993.40± 0.16 mg GAE\100g) and (85.86± 0.01mg
GAE\100g) for methanolic and chloroformic extracts respectively. However, the flavonoids
content in leaves (153.32± 0.60 mg QE\100g, 70.94± 0.71mg QE\100g) was higher than in
seeds (28.76 ± 0.01 mg QE\1oog ,8.38± 0.12mg QE\100g). Also, the free radicals scavenging
was found to be (IC50=126.44±0.63μg\ml methanol) and (IC50=50.97±0.14μg\ml methanol)
for leaves and seeds respectively. According to the results above, Lepidium Sativum can be
considered as natural antioxidant and important nutritional supplements.