Available on-line at http://www.bjbabe.ro Banats Journal of Biotechnology 2012, III(6), 111 COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PHENOLIC CONTENT OF SOME PLANT EXTRACTS DOI: 10.7904/ 2068 – 4738 – III(6) – 111 Marian BUTU 1 , Nicoleta ANDREI 1 , Alina BUTU 1 , Steliana RODINO 1,2, 1 National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, 060031, Splaiul Independentei 296, Bucharest, Romania, steliana.rodino@yahoo.com 2 University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 011464, Mărăşti Blvd. 59, Bucharest, Romania Abstract. The aim of the present study was to draw a comparative analysis of the content in flavones and polyphenols of the hydro alcoholic extracts obtained from two medicinal plants, namely artichoke (leaves) and respectively, licorice (root) according to the origin of the vegetal material and the method used in the preparation of the extracts. The plants used in the experiments are two indigenous medicinal plants belonging to wild and cultivated flora in Romania. Artichocke (Cynara scolymus) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) were purchased from three local companies trading medicinal plants: Plafar, Vitaplant and Franco Impex. It was evaluated the composition of the extracts in terms of the content of polyphenolic compounds expressed in caffeic acid and flavone compounds content expressed in rutin. Plant extracts were obtained by two different methods of preparation: ultrasonation and maceration with intermittent shaking. Keywords: flavones, polyphenols, vegetal hidroalcoolic extracts INTRODUCTION Currently, the study of the plant extracts for isolation of compounds that could be used in various fields is a large concern. Thus, a large variety of vegetal extracts or bioactive constituents of plants are investigated for their valorification in the development of natural products necessary to treat infectious states–in generally and for antifungal treatment–in particular DULGER and GONUZ, 2004 . Given the national and international context regarding organic farming and environment protection, we strongly believe that there are welcome the investigations in the extraction of active ingredients with antifungal and antimicrobial activity. In order to find the natural and ecolological methods for the control of diseases caused by fungi and bacteria, the study of antifungal potential of some plant extracts is developing and is part of current research trends on international and national level BUTNARIU, et al ., 2011 . Many researches demonstrated that there is a strong relationship between the type and concentration of phenolic compounds from vegetal materials and the antifungal activity of these plants LIANG et al ., 2004; BUTNARIU, et al., 2012 . Flavone compounds have been extensively studied since the middle of last century, and research over time revealed their antifungal, antioxidant, anti–inflammatory, antiallergic and antineoplastic activity GROTEWOLD, 2006 . Plant extracts contain strongly bioactive ingredients and they are used in small concentrations. They have a much lower impact on plants and environment than synthetic products NASCIMENTO et al ., 2000 . Considering their intense antioxidant potential, polyphenolic compounds have a special importance. In the polyphenolic compounds group the flavonoids family has a special role through its direct impact on fungi HARBRONE and WILLIAMS, 2000 . From the point of view of phytoprotection, the role of active principles can be played by a single