Comparative Study on Antioxidant Capacity and Total Phenolic Content in Three Species of Artemisia

To introduce novel plants as a source of antioxidants, in the current study the total phenolic content and antioxidant activities of three species of Artemisia: Artemisia sieberi Bess., Artemisia aucheri Boiss. and Artemisia dracunulus L. were evaluated and compared. Methanolic extracts of the aerial parts of these species were processed for determination of the phenolic content (using the Folin–Ciocalteau reagent) and antioxidant capacity (employing DPPH/superoxide anion radical–scavenging activity and Ferric reducing antioxidant power). Among these species, A. aucheri exhibited the highest phenolic content (40.5±1.9 mg of GAEg⁻¹DW) and DPPH/superoxide anion radical-scavenging activity (with the EC₅₀ value of 129.57±1.02 and 60.5±0.7 µg/ml, respectively). Also, A. aucheri significantly showed the highest reducing ability. There was a significant negative correlation between the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity (R² = -0.811, p < 0.05), which indicates polyphenols might be the main antioxidants. The present study showed Artemisia sieberi, Artemisia aucheri and Artemisia dracunulus are relatively strong radical scavengers – with dominance of Artemisia aucheri – and can be considered as a good source of natural antioxidants for medicinal and commercial uses.