Esra Maltaş1, Ahmet Uysal2*, Salih Yıldız1 and Yusuf Durak2
1 Selcuk University, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Konya, Turkey 2 Selcuk University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Konya, Turkey
ABSTRACT
Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of methanolic extract of Vitex agnus castus were studied. The antioxidant properties of the extracts were evaluated using different antioxidant tests, including ferric chelating, scavenging activity of hydrogen peroxide and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity. The highest antioxidant activity was observed to be 93.5±0.8% by scavenging activity of hydrogen peroxide. However, total flavonoid and phenolic content of the methanolic extract were determined. Antimicrobial activity tests were carried out using disc diffusion method and broth microdilution method with 7 bacteria and 1 yeast. Results suggested that Vitex agnus castus may be important in variety improvement, nutraceuticals, bio-pharmaceuticals and food additives as possible cost-effective natural antioxidant.
KEYWORDS: Vitex agnus castus, Phenolics, Antioxidant activity, Flavonoid, Antimicrobial activity.