Antioxidant and Free Radical-Scavenging Activity of Tulipa Systola Roots, Leaves and Flowers Collected in the Kurdistan Region of Iraqz

Abstract

We report the first investigation on the antioxidant and antiradical properties of extracts of roots, leaves, and flowers of Tulipa systola Stapf, which is used as a pain-relief in the traditional medicine of the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The study has revealed that all parts of the plant contain significant amounts of phenolics and other antioxidant metabolites; In the Folin-Ciocalteu assay the total antioxidant capacity of the ethanol extract of flowers was even higher than that of ascorbic acid. The DPPH radical scavenging activity, the hydrogen peroxide and Fe (III) reducing powers have also been measured. The values were different for the different extracts, clearly reflecting the great variety of contents of secondary metabolites. These compounds possibly have different redox properties and radical quenching properties in vitro, and exert their effects through different mechanisms. Results are in great subtend to become a starting point for in vivo investigation in the next steps, isolation and characterization of the responsible antiradical and antioxidant secondary metabolites.

Keywords: Tulipa systola, Polyphenols, Flavonoids, Antioxidant and antiradical scavenging activities.