Composition and Radical Scavenging Activity of the Extracts from Deschampsia Antarctica É. Desv. Plants Grown in Situ and in Vitro

Abstract

The work was aimed at studying the phytochemicals available in D. antarctica plants from various sites on Antarctic Islands, introducing the plants into in vitro culture and comparing the extracts from the plants grown in situ and in vitro. All the extracts were found to contain high amount of phenols, with luteolin and hydroxybenzoic acids derivatives being the main phytochemicals in the extracts from the plants grown in situ and in vitro. Being diluted by 10 times, the extracts scavenged 50÷90% of DPPH• radicals, 20÷40% of NO• radicals and 40÷60% of OH• radicals. Despite the differences in composition, extracts from the plants grown in situ and in vitro showed similar radical scavenging activity.