Evaluation of antioxidant activity of the phenolic composition of Syrian Arbutus andrachne L.

Arbutus andrachne L. (Grecian Strawberry tree) is widespread in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea Regions. This study aimed at determining total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Arbutus andrachne parts (flowers, leaves, bark and fruit) collected from different parts of the Latakia Province (Syria). Our work is the first to conduct this experiment on the selected plants in Syria. The fresh samples were extracted using ethanol 50% as an extraction solution, then the total contents of the phenolic compounds were determined spectrophotometrically using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The results showed higher phenolic contents in flowers (38.32 mg/g) than any other parts. Antioxidant activity was determined by FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) method, and the results were in accordance with those obtained with the Folin-Ciocalteu method, which the general trend of the antioxidant activity FRAP in the botanical parts was similar to the total phenolic contents, which flowers have an antioxidant activity value (19.35 µMFe2±/g) that exceeds the other parts.ANOVA analysis showed significant differences in the contents of phenolic compounds between the four parts of Arbutus andrachne L. (p<0.05). Therefore, a positive correlation was found between total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity for Arbutus andrachne L. (R2=0.952).