Chemical profile and Antioxidant activity of Allium chamaemoly L. subsp. chamaemoly from Sicily (Italy)

This study aimed to evaluate the total phenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) involved the composition and antioxidant activity of Allium chamaemoly L. subsp. chamaemoly (Amaryllidaceae), known in Italy as “Agghiu di li maghi” [1]. Bulbs were dried for 10 days in the shade, blended, and then extracted with ethanol EtOH, giving us an extraction yield of 1.17%. The TPC and TFC were measured using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, whereas the aluminium chloride colorimetric assay was applied to evaluate just the TFC [2]. The antioxidant activity was assessed by using 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and β-carotene bleaching tests) [2]. Bulbs contained 56.22 and 18.88 mg/g extract of TPC and TFC, respectively. Different radical scavenging power was observed using ABTS and DPPH tests with IC₅₀ of 287.13 mg/mL and 44,32% inhibition at 1000 mg/mL, respectively. In fact, the differences between these activities can be ascribed to the reaction media. The DPPH assay is conventionally conducted under a concentration of 50% ethanol /water, while the ABTS assay is carried out in aqueous conditions. In our case, it was possible to observe that thebulb’s phenols are more soluble in aqueous reaction media. IC50 values of 66.23 and 62.47 μg/mL were found in the β-carotene bleaching test after 30 and 60 minutes of incubation, respectively. In conclusion, our investigation revealed that Allium chamaemoly L. subsp. chamaemoly is a healthy spice with a promising content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity.

[1] Pignatti, S.; Guarino, R.; La Rosa, M. - Flora d’Italia; Edagricole, Bologna, II edizione, 2017, vol. 1, pp. 248-249; [2] Loizzo, M.R.; Tundis, R.; Sut, S.; Dall'Acqua, S.; Ilardi, V.; Leporini, M.; Falco, T.; Sicari, V.; Bruno, M. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MSn) Analysis and Bioactivity Useful for Prevention of "Diabesity" of Allium commutatum Guss. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2020, 75, 124-130.