The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of major phenolic acids from Potentilla erecta rhiozomes. Water and ethanol-water mixture was used for extraction of these compounds. The extracts were also evaluated for the quantification of total phenolic content and the antioxidant capacity. The contents of phenolic acids and resulting antioxidant activities are dependent on the nature of extracting solvent due to the presence of different antioxidant compounds. Results showed that P. erecta rhiozomes contained high amount of gallic and p-HBA acids. The contents of chlorogenic and protocatechuic acids in the extracts of Potentilla species have not been reported yet. The results suggested that the extracts could be used as the active cosmetics ingredients and nutraceuticals.
Keywords: antioxidants; phenolic acids.