Study on phytochemical and antioxidant properties of dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) seed oil, ethanol, and aqueous extracts

Dragonhead with the scientific name of Dracocephalum moldavica L., is an annual medicinal and aromatic herbaceous plant from Lamiaceae family. In this research, D. moldavica seed oil, aqueous, and ethanol extracts were prepared and quantity and quality of fatty acids, phytosterols amount, phenolic and flavonoid compounds contents, and DPPH radicals scavenging activity were measured. The seed oil was extracted by cold press method. The results showed that the highest amount of palmitic and stearic acids (9.4 and 3.55%, respectively) was obtained in the ethanol extract. While, the highest amount of oleic (9.7%), linoleic (19.53%), and α-linolenic (59.01%) acids were found in the oil. The ethanol extract exhibited the highest amount of total phytosterol (833.86 mg.100 g-1 DW), γ-tocopherol (38.72 mg.100 g-1 DW), and total tocopherol (39.21 mg.100 g-1 DW). The highest total phenolic (17.4 mg GAE.g-1 DW) and flavonoid (112.12 mg QE.g-1 DW) contents were found in the ethanol extract of seeds and lowest of them (near to zero) was found in the seed oil. Also, the ethanol extract showed the highest DPPH radicals scavenging activity. Overall, ethanol is recommended as the best solvent for extracting dragonhead seed extract to maintain more qualitative properties.