Abstract:
Saccocalyx satureioides Coss and Dur, an endemic species of Algeria, has attracted a great attention due to its traditional medicinal usage for gastric disorders and spasms. The purpose of this study was to estimate the total phenolics and flavonoids content, and the in vitro antioxidant capacity of the ethyl acetate extract (EAE) from Saccocalyx satureioides Coss and Dur aerial part. Folin-Ciocalteu’s reagent and Aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) were used to quantify the total polyphenols and flavonoids content, respectively. However, DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and β-carotene bleaching method were applied to assess  the in vitro antioxidant activity. Total phenolic and flavonoid content in the extract were 317.55 ±1.38 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of dry extract (GAE/g) and 40.38 ± 0.88 mg quercetin equivalent / g of dry extract (QE/g), respectively. The EAE extract has an important capacity to scavenge the free radical DPPH with an IC₅₀ of 0.02±0.00048mg/ml. In addition, it was powerfully able to inhibit the lipid peroxidation with a percentage of 71.59± 0.53%. The results of the present study may prove that the medicinal plants are a good resource of natural antioxidants.

Keywords: Saccocalyx satureioides, Ethyl Acetate Extract, Polyphenols, Flavonoids, Antioxidant Activity.