Research on white fir extract has led to the conclusion that the extract has antiatherosclerotic, cardioprotective, antipsoriastic activity and reduces the postprandial glycemic response. It contains carbohydrates, tannins and polyphenols that contribute to anti-inflammatory activity with known biological composition, as well as pharmacological and clinical activity.
Our task was to identify the antioxidant content of the white fir branch extract using the DPPH• radical scavenging assay and ABTS•+ radical scavenging assay methods. By modifying the methods by using water instead of methanol to determine the antioxidant content, we get a more realistic idea of what is going on in our bodies after ingesting the extract. It was interesting to learn that when the solvent is changed from water to methanol or vice versa, certain substances precipitate, that can affect antioxidant activity. The concentration of antioxidant reagents influences the determination of the amount of antioxidants. The best parameter for determining the antioxidant activity of the DPPH• method is the slope of the line for standard gallic acid and quercetin, the IC50 for Belinal and Belinal C extracts. For the ABTS•+ method, the slope of the line is the best parameter for the standard and the extract.
By means of centrifugation and filtration it was found that the proportion of the extract was dissolved from 37 % to 98 %, depending on the type of sample, method, solvent, and the solvent to sample ratio. With the centrifugation method we determined the insoluble fraction in methanol or water, the insoluble fraction in both solvents and the soluble fraction in only one solvent. With the filtration method we examined the solubility of the extract in different proportions of the extract to water and 0,01 M HCl. Belinal is better soluble than Belinal C in both solvents. The solubility and antioxidant content of the extract may be affected by the year of harvest, the branch felling period, the environment, the processing of the branches and the age of the sample itself when performing the tests, since all these factors affect the composition of the extract.
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