Available online on www.ijppr.com International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research 2014-15; 6(4); 889-893 ISSN: 0975-4873 *Author for correspondence Research Article Polyphenols Content and Antioxidant Activities of Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg (Dandelion) Leaves *Ivan Georgiev Ivanov Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Food Technologies, 26 Maritza Blvd., 4002, Plovdiv, Bulgaria Available Online: 22 nd November, 2014 ABSTRACT Plant of genus Taraxacum known as dandelion have long been used in tradition medicinal. Extracts from dandelion possess anti-influenza virus, anti-fertility and anti-retrovirus activity, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects. Chicoric acid also known as dicaffeyltartaric acid and belongs to phenylpropanoids is one of the main constituent of T. officinale. The current investigation was conducted to determinate the total polyphenols and total dihydroxycinnamic derivatives contents, and to evaluate the antioxidant capacities in aqueous and ethanol-water extracts prepared from T. officinale leaves. Total phenolic content was determined by using the Folin-Ciocalteau method. The antioxidant capacities in the forms of DPPH, FRAP and CuPRAC were evaluated by spectrophotometric methods. The results indicated that TPC, chicoric acid concentration, DPPH, FRAP and CuPRAC values were higher in 50% ethanol extract of T. officinale leaves: 33.90 ± 0.57 mg GAE/ g DW, 3.1 g/ 100g DW, 136.3 mM TE/ g DW (DPPH method), 131.5 mM TE / g DW (FRAP method) and 407.8 mM TE/ g DW (CuPRAC method). The results clearly demonstrated the Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg leaves are rich source of polyphenols possess high antioxidant properties. The high yield of cichoric acid make this plant valuable source of commercial production. Keywords: Taraxacum officinale, chicoric acid, HPLC, antioxidants INTRODUCTION Dandelion Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg have been used as medicinal infusions and decoctions of root and herb (1). In Turkish folk medicine, the herb is used as a laxative, diuretic and potent anti-diabetic medicine (2). The traditional Chinese medicine uses Taraxacum officinale to enhance immune response to the upper respiratory tract infections, and bronchitis or pneumonia (1). In combination with other herbs, Taraxacum officinale is used to treat hepatitis. Their extracts contain lipotropic substances which can improve functionality of hepatocytes (3). Other several health-promoting benefits including anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and hypoglycaemic activities have been attributed to the use of dandelion extracts or the plant itself (4,5) Taraxacum officinale flower extract, particularly the ethyl acetate fraction, possesses bioactive phytochemicals which have the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and prevent DNA from ROS-induced damage in vitro (6). Dandelion can protect against cholecystokinin octapeptide induced acute pancreatitis in rats (7). In addition, leaves from Taraxacum officinale ingested by ruminants during pregnancy strengthen the liver and can help prevent preeclampsia, which manifests as high blood pressure with edema. Leaves help prevent anemia, because they are rich in iron and helps the fetus to develop a strong liver of its own (8). Also, the ethanolic extract of Taraxacum officinale increases the frequency and excretion ratio of fluids in healthy humans (9). Extracts from dandelion possess anti-influenza virus (10), anti-fertility (11) and showed strong anti-HIV–1 retrovirus activity (12), antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects (13). Chicoric acid is one of the main constituent of T. officinale. It is also known as dicaffeyltartaric acid and belongs to phenylpropanoids. Chicoric acid occurs naturally in large number of medicinal plants that were being used in folk medicine since time immemorial (14). Its anti-angiogenic, anti-inflamatory, antibacterial, anti-nociceptive activities and inhibit HIV integrase are well documented (12, 15, 16, 17). MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant material: Aerial part (leaves) of Taraxacum officinale was collected from Plovdiv Bulgaria. Extraction procedure: Samples of herbs desiccated in the lab at room temperature were pulverized in a laboratory crusher. The powder of ground sample (1.0 g) were carefully extracted with 100 ml of ethanol-water (1:1 v/v), 96 % ethanol and water in a water bath at 80°C for 1 h, stirred for 1 h at room temperature and then filtered. HPLC analysis: The HPLC analysis of phenolics acids were performed by Waters HPLC systems (Milford, MA, USA) equipped with binary pump (Waters 11525), a UV- VIS detector (Waters 2487) and Breeze 3.30 SPA software. Detailed conditions of HPLC analyses are previously reported by Marchev et al (18).