Phytotherapeutic Activities of Six Plant Infusions: Chemical Constituents and Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

The use of traditional medicine is attributable not only to cultural and poverty reasons but also to the ineffectiveness of many existing medicines. The lack of effective pharmaceutical formulas and the resistance created by current antibiotic pathogens, as well as oxidative stress new therapeutic agents from plants. In fact, several studies have shown that medicinal plants possess antioxidant properties due largely to their phytochemical profile. In addition, they can prevent oxidative modification by neutralizing free radicals, oxygen scavenging, or decomposing peroxides through their antioxidant activities. Endemic plants can be a source of new bioactive compounds able to prevent several diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and Alzheimer’s disease by combating oxidative stress and its associated pathologies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contents of total phenolics, flavonoids, and caffeine in six medicinal plants used traditionally in phytotherapy, usually consumed as tea or infusion namely: Camellia sinensis, Melissa officinalis, Lippia citriodora, Cymbopogon citratus, Matricaria chamomilla, and Tilia cordata. Significant variations in total phenolics and flavonoids content were found among analyzed plants and depending on the nature of the extract. The concentration of caffeine was also very dissimilar and followed the sequence M. officinalis < T. cordata < C. citratus < M. chamomilla < L. citriodora < C. sinensis. Also, the antioxidant activity of each plant was found to vary according to C. citratus (90.9%) > C. sinensis (87.8%) > M. officinalis (50.7%) > M. chamomilla (45.3%) > T. cordata (32.2%) > L. citriodora (28.0%).