The Study of Some Fenugreek Extracts by Germination Bioassay

Abstract

Since the constant use of traditional pesticides can have long-term adverse effects on human health, the environment and the fact that pests can develop resistance to them, it is of interest to develop natural alternatives with a role to protect plants and crops. Such an alternative would be the use of phytochemical compounds, with an antioxidant role, found in fenugreek seeds. This research paper aimed to evaluate the effect of three types of extracts obtained from fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum) on radish seeds through the germination bioassay. The extracts were obtained in three different organic solvents (ethanol 70%, propylene glycol - PG-50% and ethanol 40%), the phenolic profile was analyzed using the Folin Ciocalteu method and the antioxidant activity by the DPPH bioassay. The results showed that the variant in 40% ethanol was superior regarding the content of total polyphenols (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) (2.667 CAE mg/ml and 3.199 RE mg/ml) compared to the extract variants obtained in 70% ethanol (1.635 CAE mg/ml and 1.863 RE mg/ml) and PG 50% (2.072 CAE mg/ml and 2.147 RE mg/ml), what particularly influenced the antioxidant activity. The Fenugreek extract in ethanol 40% has a higher redox potential compared to the other extract variants tested in our study. The phytotoxic profile of the extracts was achieved by applying the radish (Raphanus sativus) seed germination bioassay. According to the results obtained, the extracts in 40% ethanol showed moderately phytotoxic activity at the concentrations of 0.50% and 1.0% and strongly phytotoxic at the concentration of 1.5% extract, while the extract variant in 70% ethanol, showed moderately phytotoxic activity at the first three concentrations tested and a strong phytotoxic effect at the concentration of 1.5%; in the case of the extract obtained in PG, no phytotoxic activity was recorded on the tested seeds, the Gi being >80%.