DETERMINATION OF TOTAL PHENOLS, ANTHOCYANINS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN THE BUTCHER’S BROOM (Ruscus aculeatus L) RIPE FRUIT

Abstract

The useful properties of medicinal plants are due to the presence of various biologically active substances in them, such as phenolic compounds, alkaloids, anthocyanins, glycosides, saponins, essential oils, resins, mucus, vitamins and so on, which have a certain effect on physiological processes in the human body. The object of the study was the the butcher’s broom fruit growing wildly in Georgia, collected in August-September upon full maturation. Our research confirms that the alcoholic extract of the butcher’s broom fruit contains biologically active substances (total phenols - 39 , 4 mg/g; anthocyanins - 39.4 mg/g), which leads to the high antioxidant activity of the said extract - 45% (F=10).