THE COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDATIVE ACTIVITY OF SPRUCE ROOTS’ EXTRACT

Abstract

The spruce Picea abies (L.) (Pinaceae) roots are logging residues and are not used nowadays. However, spruce roots are a source of valuable biologically active substances that have potential for medical use. The purpose is to research the composition of phenol compounds and antioxidative activity of spruce roots water extract. The raw materials for the research were the spruce roots collected on a cutting area on the day of sawing a tree. Water extract was obtained from the roots, and then polysaccharides were removed from it. Composition of the extract phenol compounds was determined using a high performance liquid chromatography on the chromatograph Agilent 1100. Compounds identification was based on retention times. Extract’s antioxidative activity was determined by the reaction with the stable radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), the EC50 value computed. Ascorbic acid and trolox (a water-soluble form of vitamin E) were used as standard substances. As a result, it was found that flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, phenolcarboxylic acids are present in the spruce roots water extract. Ferulic acid has the highest amount amongst hydroxycinnamic acids in the spruce roots water extract, hyperoside – amongst flavonoids. It was found that the spruce roots water extract, without polysaccharides, has a pronounced antioxidative activity similar in strength to ascorbic acid, which allows us to talk about the prospects for further researches and the medicinal drugs manufacturing.