The total phenolic/flavonoid contents and antioxidant potential of the
methanol, ethyl-acetate, acetone and water extracts obtained from the aerial
parts and fruits of Cachrys cristata DC.(Apiaceae) were compared. The total
phenolic contents of the tested extracts were determined using
Folin-Ciocalteu?s reagent. The amounts per g of dry plant extract of gallic
acid (GA) and quercetin (Qu) ranged between 22.60-166.97 mg, and 8.91-46.02
mg, respectively. The antioxidant activity, expressed as IC50, ranged from
1.784-17.621 mg/mL and from 1.01-3.42 mg L(+)-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)/g
when tested with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ABTS, respectively.
The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was investigated by the microwell
dilution assay, for the most common human gastrointestinal pathogenic
bacterial strains: Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC
9027, Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13076, Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876, Listeria
monocytogenes ATCC15313, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and yeast Candida
albicans ATCC 10231. The results indicate that C. cristata can be regarded as
a potential source of antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.