Investigation of biological activity of iris kirkwoodii

Iris kirkwoodii plant used in this study was collected around the province of Tokat, is one of the endemic species spreading in Turkey. The annual herbaceous plant that is bloomed flowers in May, April. There are no previous studies about I. kirkwoodii. In the present study, n-hexane, dichloromethane, methanol, and water extracts from roots, leaves and flower parts of I. kirkwoodii were prepared by soxhlet extractor. Their biological activities included the antioxidant, antibacterial and DNA protection activity were studied. To determine the antioxidant activity, Rell Assay Diagnostics Kit (TAS, TOS) and DPPH assays were used. MIC (Minimal Inhibition Concentration) method was performed according to CLS (Clinical Laboratory Standarts) for antibacterial activity assay and pBR322 plasmid DNA was used to determined the DNA protection activity. These results showed that, water and methanol extracts the higher antioxidant activities. The water extract of flower showed the high antioxidant activity. In addition, it has been determined that water extract of root had the highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity. All extracts appeared broad spectrum antibacterial activity except hexane extract of root. Whole extracts other than root dichloromethane and water shown protection property against plasmid DNA damaging with presence of UV and H2O2. Results indicated that I. kirkwoodii had active metabolites related to antioxidant, antibacterial and DNA protection activities.