Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in seven populations of Lepidium sativum L. Leaves

Garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) is anannual herbaceous species native to Egypt and south west Asia. The leaves of L. sativum possesse various medicinal properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the diversity of phytochemical constituents of seven populations of L. Sativum from Iran.

Experimental: 

The crude extracts of L. sativum populations leaves were obtained with methanol and were evaluated for the total phenol content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging assay, and phenolic compounds by HPLC analysis.

The total phenolic content ranged from 1.25 to 2.36 mg GAE/g extract and the total flavonoid content was 0.74- 1.61 mg QE/g extract. Chlorogenic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid, followed by ferulic and caffeic acids. The content of kaempferol flavonoid was also 5.2-fold of quercetin. Leaf extracts of Tabriz and Kerman populations exhibited higher yields of phenolic constituents and antioxidant activity. The total phenolic content was positively correlated to total flavonoid content and phenolic acids (except caffeic acid) and negatively correlated to DPPH free radical scavenging activity (IC50). A negative correlation was found among total flavonoid content, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid with precipitation and relative humidity.

Recommended applications/industries: 

Our research is the first report to study the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activity in different Iranian populations of L. sativum leaves for their health benefit.