Antioxidant activity and Phytochemical investigation of Onosma chlorotricum Boiss & Noe lipophilic extract on Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

In traditional medicine of Lorestan province, Oily extract of root of a plant known as Tashnehdary (Onosma chlorotricum) are used topically for wound healing. So far this plant has not been investigated for its biological activity nor for its components. Antioxidant activity is one possible mechanism helps healing process. These days with changing societies to high stress lifestyles, the amount of oxidative reactions in human bodies are increased, so causes verity of harms to human health. Modern societies are looking for natural resources especially plants instead of chemicals to prevent oxidative reaction damages. n-Hexan extract of the plant root will be a good estimation of oily extract uses in folk medicine. This study has focused on phytochemical investigation of antioxidant components of the plant root. Extract was performed using Soxhlet apparatus and was run over TLC silicagel plates using following solvent system: n-Hexane: Chloroform (10:90). Separated components on TLC were tested for the antioxidant activity using DPPH solution. Phytochemical evaluation of active compounds was investigated by various spray reagents. Active antioxidant components appeared as light spots in the pink background. Antioxidant components Rf=0.9, 0.7, 0.37,0.21 and 0.13, Components with have phenolic, phenyl propanoid and terpenoid structure and Probably are naphtoquninoes and due to bibliographic information are alkanin, shikonin derivatives. This study confirms antioxidant activity of some components in the lipophilic extract of the root of Onosma chlorotricum and consequently may confirm its effectiveness in processes such as wound healing which antioxidant reactions are helpful.