Antioxidant activity of hawthorn (Crataegus elbursensis) extract on stability of soybean oil

Medicinal hawthorn fruit has health effects on certain physiological systems such as the cardiovascular that these effects are connected with the presence of antioxidants compounds. In this study، total phenolic and flavonoid contents of acetonic and ethanolic extract of hawthorn fruit were measured spectrophotometrically and antioxidant activity of the extracts were assessed by DPPH radical-scavenging activity، total antioxidant capacity and reducing power assay and compared with synthetic antioxidant namely BHT. Also، the effect of acetonic extract on oxidative stability of soybean oil was assessed using peroxide value and thiobarbitoric acid index. Results showed that the highest phenolic and flavonoid content 100. 75mg GA/g extract and 2. 14 mg QU/g extract، respectively and also the most of antioxidant activities in whole of assays were related to the acetonic extract. This extract showed antiradical activity higher than BHT only in DPPH assay. Also، the extract at concentration of 1000 ppm effectively inhibited the formation of peroxides in soybean oil and revealed strong antioxidant activity compared with BHT at concentration of 200 ppm. Therefore، it can be concluded that hawthorn fruit is a good source of phenolic compounds and other natural antioxidants.