Antioxidant Activity of the Aqueous Extract of Iris taochia and Identification of its Chemical Constituents

In this study, phytochemical components and antioxidant capacity of extracts obtained from Iris taochia plant, which is endemic to Caucasus, were investigated. Fifteen new compounds were detected and identified using a GC-MS system, which were isolated from Iris taochia for the first time. From the calibration curve, the amount of alpha-amyrin in dry powder of Iris taochia was calculated. The mean amount of alpha-amyrin found in whole plant powder of Iris taochia was 4.598 mu g/10 mg with a percent recovery of 0.045 % for alpha-amyrin. Antioxidant properties of Iris taochia, in vitro using Fe3+-Fe2+, Cu2+-Cu+ and Fe3+-2,4,6-tripyridyl-s-triazine reducing, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) scavenging, N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine scavenging and Fe2+ chelating activities were measured. The antioxidative effects of Iris taochia have not been reported earlier. These results shown that crude ethanol and water extracts of Iris taochia had effective reducing effect, radical scavenging activity and metal chelating effects when compared to standard antioxidants. The results indicated that the ethanol and water extracts of Iris taochia could be used as a potential source of natural antioxidants by the pharmaceutical industry or as a conceivable food supplement.