Abstract:
As part of the valuation of local medicinal plants, we are interested in the study of the physicochemical and phytochemical composition, and the antioxidant properties of different extracts (acetonic, ethanolic and methanolic extracts) prepared from the leaves of Artemisia herba-alba and Olea europaea L. The physicochemical analysis of the plants powder revealed that Artemisia herba-alba contained approximately 7.86 % water, 5.99 % mineral salts, and 4.94 % fat, while Olea europaea L. contained 8.23% water, 3.51% mineral salts, and 2.81% fat. The results showed that the methanolic extract of Artemisia herba-alba exhibited the highest level of phytochemicals (24.8 %) whereas for Olea europaea L. it was the ethanolic extract which showed substantial level of bioactive compounds (37.65 %). The highest concentrations of polyphenol, flavonoid, tannin and chlorophyll pigments were obtained with acetonic extracts for both studied plants. The strongest anti-free radical activity with DPPH, reducing power, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were obtained with the acetonic extract for Artemisia herba-alba (IC₅₀ = 0.611 mg/mL, EC50 = 5.03mg/mL, TAC = 97.91μg AAE/mg dw), and methanolic extract for Olea europaea L. (IC₅₀ = 0.56 mg/mL, EC50 = 0.83 mg/mL, TAC = 150.49 μg AAE/mg dw).

Keywords: Artemisia herba-alba, Olea europaea L., Secondary Metabolites, Antioxidant Activity.