ABSTRACT

The aim of the present work was to examine antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Tamus communis L. ssp. cretica (L.) Kit Tan (Dioscoreaceae). The applied methods for the antioxidant activity of aqueous extract from the aerial parts of the plant were 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, flow injection analysis-luminol chemiluminescence (FIA-CL) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assays. Total phenolic content of the aqueous extract was determined with spectrophotometric method. The antimicrobial activity of the n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts of the aerial parts of the plant was assessed towards selected bacteria. In addition, mineral composition of the raw plant was examined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Aqueous extract of T. communis ssp. cretica was found to possess DPPH free radical scavenging activity (IC50= 2.85±1.30 mg/mL), inhibitory effect on H2O2- and HOCl-luminol chemiluminescence (-log IC50=3.8±0.09 and IC50=1.3x10-3±4.9x10-4 mg/mL), and inhibitory activity toward lipid peroxidation (IC50=3.82±1.67 μg/mL) compared to the references. Total phenolic content of the aqueous extract was found to be 56.66±0.21 mg gallic acid/g extract. The n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts showed moderate activity having MIC values of 250-500 μg/mL against selected microorganisms. According to our results of mineral composition, the raw plant has low amount of toxic elements (Pb, Cd and Al), macro (Ca and Mg), and microelements (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn).