Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of plants grown in the Mediterranean region

Abstract

Background: The main objective of this research was to identify plant species with possible bioactivities based on their total phenol content, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Therefore, different parts of 42 plant species grown in the Mediterranean region were extracted with aqueous ethanol solutions to prepare extracts with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, mainly resulting from their total phenol contents. No detailed laboratory data on the flora of this area exists regarding their total phenol contents and total antioxidant activities. Results: Yields of extraction for each plant material were determined. Extracts were characterized based on their total phenol contents, total antioxidant (both hydrophilic and lipophilic), and antimicrobial activities using Folin-Ciocalteu, Photochemiluminescence, disc diffusion, and microdilution methods, respectively. The extract of Hypericum empetrifolium had the relatively highest total water-soluble and lipid-soluble antioxidant activities. Sarcopoterium spinosum extract had relatively high total phenol content. Preliminary screening study was conducted with the disc diffusion method to evaluate the extracts' antimicrobial activities. 26 out of 42 plant species showed significant antimicrobial activities against the growth of microorganisms. Microdilution assays were performed to evaluate the most active plant species with their minimum inhibition concentrations. H. empetrifolium, Pistacia terebinthus, Arbutus unedo, and Cistus parviflorus were the most antimicrobial plant species among those investigated. CONCLUSION: The new potential sources for the isolation of bioactive natural compounds from specific plant species could be possible with the help of this present screening study. Isolated bioactive natural compounds can be utilized as raw materials in cosmetics, nutraceuticals, food supplements, and pharmaceutical industries.