Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity of Vicia hirsuta and the Effect of Extraction Method

Background and The genus Vicia (Papilionaceae) contains 45 species in Iran. This investigation was designed to study the impact of extraction methods on total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities of V. hirsuta aerial parts.
In this experimental study the efficiencies of three extraction methods i.e. Maceration, Soxhlet, and ultrasonically assisted extraction were evaluated for the extraction of antioxidants. Antioxidant activities were investigated by four different methods. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined. Data analysis was done in GraphPad Prism 5.
Soxhlet extract showed highest amount of phenolic and flavonoids contents. In DPPH radical scavenging activity, soxhlet extract had a higher activity which was significantly different from other extracts (P 0.05). In iron chelating activity, maceration extract had the highest activity.
Extraction methods significantly affect antioxidant capacities and total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Soxhlet assisted extraction was chosen as the most efficient method.