Biological activities of extracts of some plants which utilized in colds

Aim: In this study, antioxidant activities and antibacterial activities of acetone and chloroform extracts obtained from Rosa canina, Echinacea purpurea, Althaea officinalis and Glycyrrhiza glabra were explored. Methods: Disc diffusion method and minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) assays were used to reveal antibacterial activity of the extracts. Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total antioxidant capacity, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity tests were performed to determine antioxidant activity of the extracts. Results: Acetone extracts of the studied plants showed higher activity than chloroform extracts. Both acetone and chloroform extracts of G. glabra produced higher inhibition zones compared to other plant extracts. The highest total phenol content was found in acetone extract of G. glabra while the lowest total phenol content was found in chloroform extract of R. canina. The highest and lowest total antioxidant capacity was determined as 247.28 ± 0.0557 µg ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/mL and 50.91 ± 0.0294 µg AAE/mL in chloroform extract of A. officinalis and acetone extract of A. officinalis, respectively. Conclusions: In the light of the obtained data, it was concluded that R. canina, E. purpurea, A. officinalis and G. glabra can be used as alternative natural antibacterial and antioxidant sources to synthetic antibacterial and antioxidant agents.