Comparative study of phytochemical, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Anethum graveolens L. , Bunium persicum L., Achillea millefolium L. and Syzygium aromaticum extracts

This study was performed to compare and evaluate the phytochemical, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of extracts of dill (Anethumgra veolens) seeds, black cumin (Bunium persicum) seeds, yarrow (Achillea millefolium) flower and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) buds in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in the Center, Research and Education of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Mashhad in year 1400. The first, the extracts of the above plants were extracted by reflux apparatus, and then, the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to determine the phytochemicals. Total phenol and antioxidant capacity of the extracts were evaluated by Folin-Ciocalteu and the DPPH and NO free radicals scavenging activity respectively. At the end of the experiment, the inhibitory potential of extract against xanthine oxidase, hyaluronidase, acetylcholinesterase, elastase and tyrosinase enzymes was investigated. The results showed that the highest amount of total phenol (40.9 mg GAE/g.DW) and saponin (94.8 mg diosgenin /g.DW) was observed in clove bud extract and the lowest amount of total phenol (7.2 mg GAE/g.DW) and saponin (72.7 mg diosgenin /g.DW) was observed in yarrow flower extract. The HPLC results showed that the concentration of phenolic compounds in the clove extract was higher as compared to other plant extracts. Clove bud extract showed stronger antioxidant properties as compared to other extracts, so that the IC50 values obtained for clove extract by DPPH and NO methods were equal to 82.95 and 104.34 μg/ml, respectively. Three extracts of clove (55.3±12.6 μg/ml) yarrow (98±5.78 μg/ml) and cumin (198±8.34 μg/ml) had the greatest effect on inhibition of xanthine oxidase enzyme. The results of anti-inflammatory properties showed that clove extract with more than 61%, caused the highest inhibition of nitric oxide. It seems that the hydroalcoholic extract of clove could be used as an anti-inflammatory, skin lightening and preventing wrinkles and skin aging.