Antioxidant Properties of Methanolic Extract and Fatty Acid Composition of Centaurea urvillei DC. subsp. hayekiana Wagenitz

Centaurea is one of most important genera of Turkey flora. Some members of the genus have been used in Anatolian folk medicine. This study was undertaken in order to examine the in vitro antioxidant activities and fatty acid composition of Centaurea urvillei subsp. hayekiana. Antioxidative properties of the methanolic extract was assessed by different in vitro experiments including total phenolic and flavonoid content, phosphomolybdenum assay (total antioxidant capacity), free radical scavenging assay, β-caroten/linoleic acid bleaching test system, ferric and cupric ion reducing power. According to the results of antioxidant capacity assays, C. urvillei subsp. hayekiana showed moderately antioxidant activity in test methods. Fatty acid analysis was performed by GC and thirty-two fatty acids were identified. The oil of C. urvillei subsp. hayekiana was characterized by higher amounts of C 18:2 ω6 (linoleic acid) and C 18:1 ω9 (oleic acid). The results suggested that C. urvillei subsp. hayekiana may be utilized as a source of both natural antioxidant and linoleic acid in healthy medicine and food industry.