In vitro antioxidant properties of flavonoids and polysaccharides extract from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaves

Molecules. 2012 Sep 21;17(9):11281-91. doi: 10.3390/molecules170911281.

Abstract

In the present study, antioxidant properties of flavonoids and polysaccharides from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaves were evaluated in several in vitro systems, e.g., scavenging activities on hydroxyl, superoxide anion, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, and reducing power. Flavonoids showed much better activity than polysaccharides in scavenging activities on free radicals. When compared to the positive control, ascorbic acid, both showed weaker antioxidant potential. However, flavonoids possessed comparable superoxide anion, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging abilities to ascorbic acid at high concentration (600 μg/mL). Meanwhile, it was found that flavonoids had prominent effects on the reducing power, which was equivalent to ascorbic acid, and was significantly higher than polysaccharides. These results clearly indicate that flavonoids are effective in scavenging free radicals and have the potential to be powerful antioxidants. Thus, tobacco leaves could be considered as a potential source of natural antioxidants for food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics or nutraceutical industries.

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Ascorbic Acid / analysis
  • Ascorbic Acid / chemistry
  • Ascorbic Acid / metabolism
  • Benzothiazoles / metabolism
  • Biphenyl Compounds / metabolism
  • Flavonoids / chemistry
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Free Radical Scavengers / analysis
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology*
  • Free Radicals
  • Hydroxyl Radical / metabolism
  • Nicotiana / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Picrates / metabolism
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Sulfonic Acids / metabolism
  • Superoxides / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Flavonoids
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Free Radicals
  • Picrates
  • Plant Extracts
  • Polysaccharides
  • Sulfonic Acids
  • Superoxides
  • 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid
  • Hydroxyl Radical
  • 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
  • Ascorbic Acid