Study of total phenolic, total flavonoid content and antioxidant potential in various organs of genus Papaver and Glaucium collected from Iran

Papaver and Glaucium are important genera of the family papaveraceae and commonly used in traditional medicine due to the various alkaloids; however, few studies have been carried out on physiological and phytochemicals of these genuses in Iran. This study was undertaken to determine the total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant potential in fruit, root and aerial parts (stem and leaf) of genus Papaver and Glaucium collected from different geographical regions of Iran. Eight provinces of Iran (Tehran, Alborz, West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Lorestan, Hamadan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari) as the centers of origin for many species of family papaveraceae were chosen for sampling. After species identification (P. tenuifolium, P. dubium, P. bracteatum, P. orientale, P. arenarium, P. lacerum, G. mathiolifolium, G. pulchrum, G. integrrima, G. elegans, G. pulchrum), extraction of samples was conducted using ultrasonic device. Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant potential of fruit, root and aerial parts (stem and leaf) organs were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu assays, aluminum chloride method and DPPH assay respectively. The results showed that amounts of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity were significantly variable both among species and in different plant organs. The amount of total phenolic was ranging from 23.89 to 77.6 mg GAE/g dry weight plant. Total phenolic content was in its highest value (77.6 mg GAE/g DW) in Ardebil sample (P. bracteatum), whereas the lowest level (23.89 mg GAE/g DW) was found in Saridareh-Germi (P. arenarium). The amount of total flavonoid content was ranging from 1.34 to 5.55 mg Que/g dry weight plant. Total flavonoid content was in its highest value (5.55 mg Que/g DW) in Sin-Sorkhehesar sample (G. mathiolifolium), whereas the lowest level (1.34 mg Que/g DW) was found in Malard-Tehran sample (P. tenuifolium). Furthermore, amount of antioxidant activity was ranging from 20.29 to 87.5%. Antioxidant activity was in its highest value (87.5%) in Hir-Ardebil sample (P. dubium), whereas the lowest level (20.29%) was found in Irdmousa sample (P. dubium). In terms of total phenol, aerial parts of P. bracteatum species; total flavonoid, aerial parts of G. mathiolifolium species and antioxidant potential, root of P. dubium, were better organs and species. These results showed that different genus of papaveraceae family (especially Papaver genus) are promising sources of natural antioxidants and could supply precious data for screening genotypes with high bioactive contents for producing natural antioxidants and other phytochemical compounds valuable for pharma industries.