In this paper, the study of antioxidant activity and phenolic composition of three different extracts (EtOAc, n-BuOH and H2O) of field horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.) is presented. The antioxidant activity has been evaluated measuring the total reducing power (expressed by Ascorbate Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity - AEAC), inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and free radical scavenging capacity (RSC) towards 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH radical) and nitric oxide (NO), respectively. In addition, the total flavonoid content (TFC) and phenolic constituents of each extract have been determined. The results obtained show that the highest RSC regarding both DPPH and NO radicals is expressed by EtOAc extract (EC50=2.37 μg/mL and EC50=90.07 μg/mL, respectively), and the lowest by H2O extract (EC50=37.2 μg/mL and EC50>333.33 μg/mL, respectively). n- BuOH extract showed the highest total reducing power (AEAC=13.40 μg/mL). Differences in the phenolic composition of examined extracts are found comparing the HPLC chemical profiles. Although, isoquercitrin is the main flavonoid in both EtOAc and n-BuOH extracts, a considerable amount of di-E-caffeoyl-meso-tartaric acid was presented in the n-BuOH extract. In H2O extract high content of phenolic acids and low percentage of flavonoids were detected.
The antioxidant activity and contents of various polyphenol classes in the seeds of seven soybean varieties of different seed color and one yellow seed cultivar, representing a reference genotype, were evaluated. Total polyphenols and tannins were determined after extraction of plant material with 70% aqueous acetone, and total flavonoids were extracted with methanol and acetic acid, whereas anthocyanins were extracted with 20% aqueous ethanol. In addition, isoflavone content and composition were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Antioxidant activity of seed extracts was evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity assay. A positive linear correlation between antioxidant activity and contents of total polyphenols and anthocyanins was established. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in the extracts of black and brown varieties, which also showed high levels of all polyphenol classes examined. Yellow seed had the highest total isoflavone content (3.62 mg/g of dry material). The highest concentration of total daidzein was determined in black seeds (>2.0 mg/g of dry material), and the highest total glycitein and genistein contents occurred in the yellow cultivar (0.53 and 1.49 mg/g of dry material, respectively). According to our results, varieties of black and brown seeds could be of special interest not only for their large content of total polyphenols, ranging from 4.94 to 6.22 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g of dry material, but also for their high content of natural antioxidants such as anthocyanins.
Resveratrol (trans-3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene) is a phytoalexin produced by grapevines in response to fungal infection, particularly to Botrytis cinerea. It has been shown that it possess various biological effects such as prevention of cardiovascular diseases and anti-inflammatory and anticancerogenic properties. Red wines are a primary source of resveratrol. Although a number of investigations have focused on the determination of resveratrol in wines of different countries, there is no similar study about the wines produced in Serbia. As authors are aware, the only study concerning resveratrol content in wine in the Balkan region was conducted in Greece. In this study, the trans- and cis-resveratrol content in samples obtained from 18 commercial Serbian wines (10 red, 7 white, and 1 rose) were analyzed. Analyses were performed after solid-phase extraction by high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detection system using an RP-C18 column with gradient elution [solvent A: acetonitrile-acetic acid-water (20:2:78 v/v), solvent B: acetonitrile-acetic acid-water (90:2:8 v/v)]. Detection of trans- and cis-resveratrol was performed on 306 and 286 nm, respectively. It was clearly established that there was a presence of trans-resveratrol isomers in all analyzed wines (0.11–1.69 mg/L) except in one white wine. Cis-resveratrol was present in 12 from 18 samples in different amounts (0.12–1.49 mg/L).