Abstract:
Free radicals or highly reactive oxygen species are capable of inducing oxidative damage to the human body. Antioxidants are the compounds which terminate the attack of reactive species and reduce the risk of diseases. Plants containing phenolic compounds have potent antioxidant capacity. The objective of this study is to evaluate total polyphenols and flavonoids contents (TPC and TFC) as well as examine the in vitro anti-oxidative properties from hydromethanolic (Crude) extract of Athamanta sicula L. (ASCE) TPC and TFC were estimated by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride methods, respectively. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using phenanthroline and ABTS assays. The results showed that the Athamanta sicula L. ASCE was rich in total polyphenols (149.58 ± 0.77 µg gallic acid equivalent/mg of the dry weight of plant extract) and flavonoids (40.48 ± 3.97µg quercetin equivalent/mg of the dry weight of plant extract). ASCE showed high ABTS radical scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ of 31.14±1.78µg/mL. Phenanthroline assay showed that the ASC Eextract exhibited a strong effect with an A_0.5 of 167.2±20 µg/mL. These findings provide evidence that Athamanta sicula L. is a potential source of natural antioxidants.

Keywords: Athamanta sicula L., Phenanthroline, ABTS, Flavonoids, Phenolic Compounds.