LYTHRUM SALICARIA (PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE).
MEDICINAL USE, EXTRACTION AND
IDENTIFICATION OF ITS TOTAL PHENOLIC
COMPOUNDS.
SUHAD S. HUMADI1, VIORICA ISTUDOR2*
1University of Baghdad, Faculty of Pharmacy
2University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Faculty of
Pharmacy, Traian Vuia 6, sect. 2, 020956, Romania
*corresponding author: viorica.istudor@gmail.com
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Abstract:
Lythrum salicaria L., known as purple loosestrife (Lythraceae) has a wide range
of beneficial health effects. It is well known as a medicinal plant from ancient Greek and
Roman times and it has been an important drug for centuries. Its pharmacological activity is
mostly due to its phenolic compounds, mainly tannins. Therefore obtaining an extract with
a high percent of total phenolic compounds would be interesting for studying the biological
potential of the plant. The dried herbal parts of Lythrum salicaria L. were sequentially
extracted with different solvents: 96% ethanol, 70% ethanol, and distilled water, in order to
select the best solvent exhibiting the maximum percent of total phenolic compounds; the
measurements were performed using modified Folin-Ciocâlteu method according to
Makkar et al. In addition, the total flavonoid content was also analyzed in the different
extracts using Chang et al method. The quantitative analysis of the examined chemical
compounds showed that 70% ethanol solution was the best solvent used in order to obtain
the highest phenolic content.
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