THE DETERMINATION OF THE PHENOLIC COMPOSITION, ANTIOXIDATIVE ACTIVITY AND HEAVY METALS IN THE EXTRACTS OF Calendula officinalis L.

The content of total phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activities of different plant extracts of Callendula Officinalis L., used in Serbian traditional medicine were determined. The phenol content was determined by using UV-Vis measurements at 765 nm in the tested plant extracts obtained by standard extraction of Calendula officinalis L. The tested extracts, examined by DPPH method showed a high antioxidant activity that correlated significantly with the content of phenols and flavonoids. All tested extracts exhibited a strong scavenging activity against DPPH radicals (more than 96,8%). The contents of metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Cd, Cr, and Pb) were determined by the flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Toxic metals, such as Cd, Cr, and Pb were not detected in the studied plant materials. The content of other metals in the plants and their extracts were low, except for iron. We examined the correlation of metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn) and the phenolic compounds content in the extracts. The studied plants from the Southeast Serbia are suitable for the preparation of teas and herbal extracts due to the low content of toxic metals (Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn), a high content of phenolic compounds and a high antioxidant activity.