Abstract
Background: Allium hirtifolium and Satureja khuzestanica are the Iranian endemic plants and proper candidates for antioxidant studies. This study investigated the antioxidant, anti-hemolytic properties, and phytochemical composition in different extracts of A. hirtifolium and S. khuzestanica.
Methods: Hydroalcoholic, methanolic, and n-hexane extracts of A. hirtifolium and S. khuzestanica plants were prepared using soaking and ultrasonic methods. Different plant extracts were evaluated for the presence of secondary metabolites using standard methods based on colorimetric analysis. The antioxidant properties of the compounds were measured by the ferric reducing ability of power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods. Finally, the anti-hemolytic effects of the extracts were investigated using the 2,2’-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) methods.
Results: Phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of flavonoids, phenolic acids, glycosides, steroids, and terpenoids in S. khuzestanica, as well as amino acid compounds, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, and phenols in A. hirtifolium. FRAP assay showed that the methanolic extract of S. khuzestanica and the n-hexane extract of A. hirtifolium have the highest total antioxidant activity. The results of the DPPH assay also demonstrated that the minimum IC50 was related to the hydroalcoholic extract of S. khuzestanica (18.58 µg/mL) and the n-hexane extract of A. hirtifolium (87.95 µg/mL). In general, the extracts of both plants could reduce the percentage of AAPH-induced hemolysis while being significant only in some concentrations (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Overall, A. hirtifolium and S. khuzestanica can be used as a herbal supplement in the human diet due to their anti-hemolytic effects.