Chemical Composition of Leaves and Hull from Pistacia Vera L. an Evaluation of Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Properties of their Extracts

Abstract

Abstract The pistachio industry in Tunisia generates a high amount of waste every year due to the large pistachio production. This, together with the good properties of the compounds that can be extracted from these by-products, makes it necessary a comprehensive study of their potential. Because of that, the aim of this work was to analyze the chemical characterization of male and female leaves and hull of Pistacia vera L. and their ethanol-water extracts. With that purpose, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined and their antioxidant activities were investigated using DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods. The total phenolic content varied from 218to533mg GAE/g DE, and the total flavonoid content varied from119to 397 mg CE/g DE. In general, the antioxidant activity showed significant values. The DPPH assay and the ABTS assay were in the range of 332–704 mg TE/g DE and 427and 1394 mg TE/g DE, respectively .In the case of FRAP, male leaves extract had the best result, being the TE value 808 mg TE/g DE. All the extracts were rich in phenolic compounds and possess valuable antioxidant activities. Therefore, leaves and hull of Pistacia vera L. could be used as cheap natural antioxidant in different applications.