Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Alkaloids Extracted from Peganum harmala Seeds

Wild Syrian rue (Peganum harmala L. family Zygophyllaceae) is wellknown in North Africa. It is widely used in traditional medicine. Recent years of research has demonstrated different pharmacological and therapeutic effects of P. harmala and its active alkaloids. This research aims to examine the antioxidant properties of alkaloids extracted from Peganum harmala seeds. Alkaloids were extracted using the organic solvent extraction method to obtain a total alkaloid extract. The extraction of alkaloids from Peganum harmala seeds gave a high yield of 3.49%. Antioxidant activity was assessed by two tests: DPPH (2, 2 diphényl 1 picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power). The evaluation of the DPPH• free radical scavenging power showed that the inhibitory concentrations expressed in IC50 obtained was 118.96 µg/ml. In addition, the FRAP method indicated that alkaloid extract from Peganum harmala seeds possess a good iron reducing power compared with standard antioxidant (ascorbic acid). These results suggest that alkaloids of Peganum harmala seeds have the potential to be exploited as a new food product and are a reservoir of bioactive molecules with prospective applications as ingredients for value-added, functional, and/or preservative food products.