Biologically active compounds of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench

The biologically important components of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench are the flavonoids, which may have choleretic, hepatoprotective and antimicrobial properties. During our study, we examined the flavonoids present in the lyophilizate of the inflorescence of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench (Helichrysi flos, syn. Stoechados flos) and in the tea made from the inflorescence via qualitative and quantitative analysis, and determined the flavonoid content. We examined the properties of the lyophilizate antioxidant, and measured the H-donor activity, reducing power property and total scavenger capacity via spectrophotometric and chemiluminescent methods. We compared the results with those of the agent present in milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.), the silibinin flavonoid. Regarding the H-donor activity, our lyophilizate was determined to be more effective than the silibinin at the same amounts; on the other hand, its reducing power property and total scavenger capacity was lower than that of silibinin. The flavonoid content, which is responsible for the lyophilizate effect, was found to be 0.47% according to our measurements; it is, therefore, possible that an extract with such a concentration of flavonoids may be of therapeutic benefit.