PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSES AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF A TRADITIONAL FOOD SOURCE: DWARF NETTLE (URTICA URENS L.)

Abstract

The phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacities of the edible parts of Urtica urens, which is consumed in the East Black Sea region of Turkey, are specified. The antioxidant activity was assessed in solvents of different polarity values, which were extracted by maceration and Soxhlet apparatus methods. Antioxidant capacity of the extracts was evaluated using DPPH, Fe+2-metal chelating, superoxide anion radical scavenging, reducing power and ferric thiocyanate methods and compared to reference antioxidant standards. The levels of phenolic and flavonoid components of the various extracts were also determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods, respectively and by HPLC which depends on detection of various standard polyphenols in the plant. In general, the results indicate the highest antioxidant activities of the extracts were obtained by Soxhlet extraction method with polar solvents. The aerial part of the plant species is a source of nutraceuticals which have satisfactory nutrient profile and antioxidant potential.