[Medicinal Lamiaceae with antioxidant properties, a potential source of rosmarinic acid]

Hydroalcholic extracts from four native medicinal Lamiaceae, Lycopus europaeus L., Melissa officinalis L., Origanum vulgare L. and Prunella vulgaris L. have shown significant antioxidative activities, by free radical scavenger effect on DPPH, compared with those of Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Salvia officinalis L. extracts. The antioxidative activity was partly in relation to the rosmarinic acid content. The major hydroxycinnamic compound, quantitatively determinated by HPLC, was present in large amount. The content in Prunella vulgaris L. spikes average 6.1%, based on dry weight.