As a source of Bardanae radix and Bardanae folium among other species Arctium lappa L. and Arctium tomentosum Mill. are mentioned. The plant materials in traditional medicine are used in gastrointestinal tract disorders, minor urinary tract complaints, as well in different skin diseases [1]. The aim of our study was determination and comparison of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and chemical composition of 70% ethanolic extracts of roots and aerial parts of above mentioned species collected from various positions in Sub-Carpatian Region of Poland. DPPH radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide anion scavenging activity of the tested extracts were evaluated. To examine the enzyme inhibitory activity of the studied extracts inhibition of lipoxidase and xanthine oxidase activity was tested. The range of the extracts concentration was: 10-250, 1-50, 5-125, and 200-500 µg/mL for DPPH, H2O2, O2–• and xanthine oxidase, and lipoxidase , respectively. All mentioned assays were made in in vitro cell-free systems. Studies of composition of the extracts were performed using HPLC coupled with DAD and Ion Trap Mass Detector. T he content of total phenols was determined using colorimetric method. The results demonstrated the antioxidant activity of the tested extracts, while their enzymes inhibition activity was rather weak. Our studies showed that activity of extracts of A.lappa and of A.tomentosum are comparable. Also the chemical composition of both species is similar. T he dominating compounds of aerial parts extracts are flavonoids - kaempferol and quercetin derivatives, while root extracts are rich in phenolic acid derivatives mainly caffeoylquinic acids and their conjugates. Determination of the polyphenols content showed that extracts from the roots contain more polyphenolic compounds than extracts from aerial parts. Therefore, the equivalent use of plant materials (roots and aerial parts) obtained from the two studied species seems to be justified.
1. EMA Community herbal monograph on Arctium lappa L., radix