Evaluation of total phenols and antioxidant activity of Mullein (Verbascum songaricum) ecotypes

The mullein genus is the largest genus of Scrophulariaceae family. The different parts of this plant contain active substances such as phenols and mucilage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the total phenols and antioxidant activity of mullein in the South West of Iran.
In this study, 10 ecotypes of the Verbascum songaricum were evaluated. Determination of total phenol was performed by the Folin- Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant activity of leaf extracts was measured using the DPPH method.
The results showed that total phenols content and antioxidant activity were different among ecotypes. The highest and lowest amount of total phenols obtained from Ardal ecotype (192.92 mg GAE/g DW) Meimand ecotype (107.71 mg GAE/g DW), respectively. The highest amount of antioxidant activity obtained from the Ardal ecotype (IC50: 31.09 μg/ml) that was significantly different with other ecotypes.
Total phenols content and antioxidant activity of the samples were affected by habitat climatic. Due to the high amount of polyphenols and antioxidant activity of mullein extract, it seems to be a good herb option as an antioxidant in complementary therapies.