Antioxidant activities of some Lamiaceae plant extracts

The antioxidant activities of four Lamiaceae plants, Salvia viridis L., Salvia multicaulis Vahl, Stachys byzantina C. Koch and Eremostachys laciniata (L.) Bunge have been determined by using 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) as well as by flow injection analysis‐luminol chemiluminescence (FIA‐CL). All extracts were shown to possess a significant scavenger activity against DPPH free radical and an inhibitory effect on H2O2‐ or HOCl‐luminol chemiluminescence. The extracts scavenged 50% of DPPH radical ranging in the following descending order: Salvia viridis > Stachys byzantina > Salvia multicaulis > Eremostachys laciniata. The most potent extract on H2O2‐induced peak chemiluminescence was that of Salvia viridis and on HOCl‐induced peak chemiluminescence was that of Stachys byzantina. The results concluded that the extracts have a potential source of antioxidants of natural origin. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.