Preliminarily phytochemical screening of the phenolic compositions and antioxidant activity of six Plantago species from Iran

Plantago sp., as a valuable source of natural antioxidants, has diverse food and pharmaceutical applications. In this study, six different Iranian species of plantago were studied to determine their antioxidant activity as well as their total phenolic, flavonioid, flavonol, chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanin content. The highest total phenolic content (92.37 mg GAE/g DW) and total flavonoids (57.16 mg QE/g DW) were found in P. major, but the highest total flavonols (46.07mg RE/g FW) and carotenoids (0.13 mg/g DW) were detected in P. cornopus. The least 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy (DPPH) activity (0.66 mg/ml) was found in P. major. Also, total antioxidant capacity was in the following order P. major> P. cornopus> P. subulata> P. lanceolate ≥ P. maritima > P. ovata.  Preliminarily comparison of the Iranian plantago species identified them as good sources of phenolic compounds. Hence, P. major followed by P. cornopus rich in natural antioxidants may be recommended as food supplements and nutraceutical aims.