Phenolic Composition, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Extract from Flowers of <i>Rosa damascena</i> from Morocco

Rosa damascena is referred to as the queen of roses due to its ornamental, flavoring, and perfuming uses, along with its recognized use in therapy. This study aimed to investigate the total phenols and flavonoids contents, the phenolic compounds, and study the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the hydroethanolic extract from Rosa damascena flowers, collected from the Middle Atlas of Morocco (Khenifra). The total phenols and flavonoids were assessed using gallic acid and quercetin as standards, and the phenolic compounds were characterized using HPLC-PDA-ESI/MS. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by two methods, namely ferric reducing assay power and total antioxidant capacity. The broth microdilution method was employed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of extract against four bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes). Up to 16 phenolic compounds belonging to tannins and flavonoids were positively identified in the Rosa damascena extract. The latter displayed high antioxidant activity and exhibited a bacteriostatic effect against Escherichia coli and a bactericidal effect against Salmonella typhimuriumn, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. As a result, the flowers of Rosa damascena might be employed as natural agents in the pharmaceutical field