Clinopidium vulgare L. (wild basil, Lamiaceae) is a well-known medicinal plant used in the traditional medicine in many countries. Medicinal plants present potential sources of bioactive compounds. Many of them are rich in polyphenol compounds that show biological potential in terms of protecting biological molecules from oxidation and in inhibition of cholinesterase enzymes, which may be significant in the treatment of diseases related to oxidative stress. In this work, we examined the chemical composition of Clinopodium vulgare L. hot water and methanol extract using spectroscopic and HPLC/DAD techniques. Using DPPH and FRAP methods the antioxidant activity was analyzed. The ability to protect proteins and lipids from oxidation was also determined as well as the ability of extracts to inhibit cholinesterase enzymes using Ellman's method. Analyzed extracts were rich in polyphenol compounds. Among 16 identified and quantified phenolic compounds dominant were: rosmarinic (26.63 and 34.21 mg/g) and ellagic acid (23.11 and 29.31 mg/g) of hot water and methanol extract, respectively. They show good antioxidant activity and good potential in protecting lipids from oxidation. The ability of extracts to inhibit enzyme acetylcholinesterase was weak, while inhibition of the butyrylcholinesterase was missing. Extracts show prooxidant activity in terms of protecting proteins from oxidation.
Keywords: Clinopodium vulgare; cholinesterase inhibition, antioxidant activity; extracts; polyphenol composition.
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