RAGGED ROBIN (LYCHNIS FLOS CUCULI L.) AERIAL PARTS – BOTANICAL CHARACTERIZATION, PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

The aim of our study was the botanical characterization, phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of ragged robin (Lychnis flos cuculi L.) aerial parts. Qualitative (specific chemical reactions, thin layer chromatography, HPLC) and quantitative (HPLC and spectrophotometric determinations) assays were performed on hydroethanolic (50% ethanol) and aqueous freeze-dried extracts. Ferric reducing power and scavenger activity towards ABTS + free radical have been used for antioxidant capacity evalution. Both dry extracts are a source of phenolic compounds, coumarines and saponins. Hydroethanolic dry extract has the highest content of polyphenols (5.09 g%), phenolcarboxylic acids (1.68 g%) and flavones (0.35 g%). By means of HPLC analysis, rutin and apigenin-7-O-glucoside were identified in both extracts. Analysed extracts have a moderate antioxidant activity; future research is needed in order to establish the pharmao-toxicological profile and the exact antioxidant activity mechanism.Keywords: phenols, rutin, antioxidant activity, flavones, ursolic acid