Serbian Rutaceae species: comparison of flavonoid contents, coumarin compounds and radical scavenging activity

Family Rutaceae is presented in Serbian flora with 3 genera and 4 species: Ruta graveolens L., Dictamnus albus L., Haplophyllum suaveolens (DC.) G. Don and H. boissieranum Vis. & Pančić. Comparative study of the phytochemical variability and antioxidant activity of ethanolic and methanolic extracts, obtained from these species’ areal parts, was performed. Total flavonoid content was determined spectrophotometrically and HPLC method was employed for quantification of coumarins. Fast antioxidant screening of samples was done in DPPH test. Flavonoid content of the tested samples varied from 2.82±0.27 to 27.72±0.15 mg of rutin equivalent (Ru)/g of extract. Psoralen, bergapten and xanthotoxin were detected and quantified only in R. graveolens extracts. All the tested samples exhibited notable potential in DPPH radicals scavenging assay. Yet, considerably lower activity was measured for Haplophyllum extracts. The present study brings forward the new data regarding the chemical profiles and antiradical activities of named Rutaceae species