Abstract

The hexane extracts of leaf and seed of Bupleurum lancifolium Hornem, which were collected from northwestern Iran, were obtained by Soxhlet apparatus. The fatty acids were derived to methyl esters and determined by gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS) systems. The hexanic extract from the leaf and seed contained ω-3 (17.1 and 48.1% respectively). The other main components of the leaf and seed extracts were ω-6 (14.1 and 22.2%), palmitic acid (25.7 and10.1%) and γ-linolenic acid (GLA) (21.3 and 8.2%), respectively. The hexane extracts of leaf and seed from B. lancifolium detected as an important source of ω-3 and ω-6 compounds among several Bupleurum species. The antioxidant activity of both hexane extracts was evaluated by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The results indicate that hexane extracts from different parts of B. lancifolium possess considerable antioxidant activity. The highest radical scavenging activity was detected in seed (IC₅₀ = 125 μg/ml). The antimicrobial activity of the extracts of those samples were determined against seven Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonasaeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae), as well as three fungi (Candida albicans,Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger). The bioassay showed that the oil exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity. This study reveals that all parts of this plant are attractive sources of fatty acid components, especially the essential ones, as well as effective natural antioxidants.

Key words: Bupleurum lancifolium, Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), fatty acid, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, ω- 3.