Abstract

Rhaponticum carthamoides is a medicinal plant indigenous to Siberia. Although its root tissue is a well-known source of biologically active compounds, recent studies have focused on the above-ground part of the plant due to its easier accessibility. An R. carthamoides plantation was recently established in Northern Poland. Composition and antioxidant activity were compared for R. carthamoides leaf extracts obtained from plants grown in two plantations: in Poland (Lubiewice) and in Russia (Koriazma); the latter plantation has growing conditions similar to those in the R. carthamoides natural habitat. Plant secondary compounds were extracted with chloroform, methanol or water. As indicated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the content of most compounds analyzed was higher in extracts from plants grown in Lubiewice (Poland). Antioxidative activity (as measured by diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays) and cytotoxic activity (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay) were higher in extracts from the Polish material.

Key words: Antioxidant activity, cytotoxic activity, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Abbreviation

Abbreviations: DW, dry weight; DPPH, diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl free radical; FRAP, ferric reducing antioxidant power; GC-MS, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; MTT, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide.