The potential of Artemisia vulgaris leaves as a source of antioxidant phenolic compounds

Abstract The potential of Artemisia vulgaris leaves as a natural source of antioxidant phenolic compounds was assessed. Maceration and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) using different solvents were applied to A. vulgaris leaves. The procedure consisted of 8 consecutive UAEs using methanol as the extracting solvent provided the best results in terms of total phenol content and extraction yield. Then, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to characterize antioxidant compounds of the selected extract. A total of 22 compounds were identified, 15 of them phenolic compounds, mainly chlorogenic acid derivatives or flavonoids, among other minor phenolic compounds. The main compounds were also quantified, chlorogenic acid derivatives being the most abundant ones. Finally, two antioxidant assays, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ORAC (oxygen radical-absorbance capacity), were used to measure the antioxidant capacity of the extract, revealing a high radical-scavenging capacity and a strong reducing potential.