This study was performed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and the polyphenolic content of Lycium barbarum L. and L. chinense Mill. leaves. The different leave extracts contain important amounts of flavonoids (43.73 ± 1.43 and 61.65 ± 0.95 mg/g, respectively) and showed relevant antioxidant activity, as witnessed by the quoted methods. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of target phenolic compounds were achieved using a HPLC-UV-MS method. Rutin was the dominant flavonoid in both analysed species, the highest amount being registered for L. chinense. An important amount of chlorogenic acid was determined in L. chinense and L. barbarum extracts, being more than twice as high in L. chinense than in L. barbarum. Gentisic and caffeic acids were identified only in L. barbarum, whereas kaempferol was only detected in L. chinense. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, TEAC, hemoglobin ascorbate peroxidase activity inhibition (HAPX) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation catalyzed by cytochrome c assays revealing a better antioxidant activity for the L. chinense extract. Results obtained in the antimicrobial tests revealed that L. chinense extract was more active than L. barbarum against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The results suggest that these species are valuable sources of flavonoids with relevant antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

Phytoestrogens are natural compounds synthesized almost exclusively by plants of the Fabaceae family. To find new sources of phytoestrogens, we analyzed the isoflavons from different extracts obtained from plants of the Romanian spontaneous flora belonging to the Fabaceae family: Genistella sagittalis, Genista tinctoria, Cytisus albus, Coronilla varia, Lotus cornyculatus and Dorycnium herbaceum. The qualitative and quantitative analysis were performed by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The hydroalcoholic extracts were obtained by sonication in 10 minutes at 60C. They were analyzed before and after hydrolysis. Some of the studied extracts presented a decreased level of isoflavons: Cytisus albus, Coronilla varia, Lotus cornyculatus and Dorycnium herbaceum. Other extracts were found rich in isoflavons. The high quantities from heterosides (daidzin, genistin, ononin) and aglycons (daidzein, genistein and formononetin) were found in Genistella sagittalis and Genista tinctoria. The results obtained for hydrolyzed extracts are inconclusive.