THE IN VITRO FREE RADICAL-SCAVENGING AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF THE MEDICINAL HERB LIMONIUM ECHIOIDES L. GROWING WILD IN TUNISIA

The petroleum ether, chloroformic, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of Limonium echioides L. (Plumbaginaceae) were screened for their antioxidant and antifungal activities through in vitro experiments. The 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS•+) decolorization and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) free radical-scavenging method were used. All extracts were active with radical-scavenging capacity reaching 100% in DPPH• reaction system and 85.6% in ABTS•+ reaction at the used concentrations. Methanolic extract was found to possess the highest free radical-scavenging effects in both assays. An important correlation between antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents of the polar extracts was found. The gallic acid, identified in this plant, seemed to be active against both radicals DPPH• and ABTS•+. The mycelium growth inhibition method was used for the antifungal testing. Ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of L. echioides showed antifungal activities against Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium sp. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This study may prove to be beneficial in the exploitation of natural antioxidant and antifungal sources, containing a large amount of phenolics, for the preservation and/or extension of the shelf life of raw and processed foods. Then, this could also be applied in the area of pharmaceuticals for the protection of human life.