Ontogenetic variability in phenolic content and antioxidant activity of an edible halophyte, Salsola soda L.

Abstract

Halophytes are valuable plants for their ability to live in extreme habitats on the earth where water sources deplete continuously. We investigated ontogenetic variability in phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of Salsola soda L., (Chenopodiaceae) a halophyte, distributed in coastal regions of Lake Burdur which is a saline lake in the Lakes District in southwest Turkey. In vitro radical scavenging activity of collected plants between June and October was detected using the 1,1-diphenyl,2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), and superoxide (SO) radical scavenging activity (RSA) and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC). Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were detected by specific qualitative tests. Caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, naringin, quercetin, and, rutin were detected by HPLC-DAD. TFC, DPPH and SO RSA and, CUPRAC were maximum in the last developmental stage, fruiting, (October), ( p <0.05). TPC was higher in the vegetative stage than that in the generative stage. Caffeic acid, naringin, rutin and ferulic acid were higher than the other phenolic components in S. soda extracts. S. soda is a potential plant that has some bioactivities thanks to its valuable phytochemicals like flavonoids.