Composition and in vitro antioxidants activity of Chamaerops humilis L.

The aim of this work is to evaluate the polyphenols composition and the antioxidant activity of methanol extracts of Chamaerops humilis L. Methanol extracts from dried leaves of Chamaerops humilis were prepared using Soxhlet extraction and examined as potential sources of phenolic compounds. Different methods were used to evaluate antioxidant activity of the extracts, including colored (ABTS*+), DPPH radical scavenging assay and reducing power. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extracts were evaluated by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) methods, respectively. Phenolic compositions of the methanol extracts were elucidated by high performance liquid chromatography coupled on-line with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The extract was mainly composed of C- and O-flavones and its O-methylated derivatives. The results suggest that methanol extracts have good potential as sources of bioactive compounds and presents an important antioxidants capacity, which can ensures its potential recommendation for application in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors.