The Antioxidant Activity of C. tournefortii Fruits and Leaves

Abstract

Celtis species are known to be used in traditional medicine for treating diseases such as edema, hypertension, kidney disorders, diabetes, cancer, and joint pain. In this study, the antiradical (DPPH), reducing power (CUPRAC and FRAP) activities, and total phenolic and flavonoid content of methanol extracts from Celtis tournefortii fruits (CTM) and leaves (CTY) were evaluated. The total phenolic content in C. tournefortii fruit and leaf extracts was determined to be 2.0±0.10 mg GAE/g and 18.63±1.52 mg GAE/g, respectively. The flavonoid content was calculated to be 11.71±0.14 mg KE/g in CTM and 21.93±1.53 mg KE/g in CTY. It was observed that the radical scavenging activity was higher in C. tournefortii leaf extracts. Additionally, the reducing power of Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ was also relatively higher in the C. tournefortii leaf extract. The current study demonstrated that C. tournefortii fruits and leaves contain bioactive compounds and possess antioxidant activity. Although the antioxidant activities of the extracts were found to be low, the presence of radical scavenging and reducing power was detected. The findings emphasize the potential of the plant C. tournefortii, commonly known as dardağan, as a functional food component and a natural antioxidant source.