ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTITUMOR PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT EXTRACTS OF MELISSA LEAVES AND BARBERRY ROOTS

Ethyl acetate and ethanol 80% extracts from Melissa officinalis (L.) (leaves) and Berberis vulgaris (roots) plants were studied in terms of phenolic compounds, for their antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumor properties. Total phenolics and total flavonoids were measured using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and aluminium chloride (AlCl3), respectively. The active ingredients of phenolics and flavonoids were identified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The major phenolic compound was identified by HPLC for melissa ethanolic extract was Rosmarinic acid (40.24 µg g-1 extract) and for ethanolic barberry extract was Catechol (40.2 µg g-1 extract). Total antioxidant capacity of the extracts was estimated by different methods including DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical), β-carotene/linoleic bleaching, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Extracts exhibited antioxidant activity that was comparable to the standard antioxidants TBHQ and gallic acid. Antibacterial activity of extracts was determined using pathogen gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria by disc assay method. Antitumor activity of extracts was determined using 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. The highest activity of extracts for antioxidants, antibacterial and antitumor was Melissa leaves ethanolic extract. Therefore, these extracts could be used as preservative ingredients in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries. Results from this study could be used for improving natural antioxidants and bioactive factors to promote human health.