Determination of antioxidant capacity and phenolic composition of Trifolium pratense var. pratense

With the increasing number of diseases worldwide, the search for new and natural alternatives for the treatment of these diseases continues. Although the use of synthetic or semi-synthetic drugs has increased considerably in the treatment of diseases, their side effects are at a level that cannot be ignored. This situation brings to the forefront the studies on the identification and isolation of components that can be an alternative to drugs with side effects. Plant bioactive components have an important potential as an alternative to synthetic drugs. Plants come to the forefront thanks to the different phytochemical profiles they may have developed according to their environment and living conditions. In the present study, it was aimed to investigate the biological activities of different extracts (ethyl acetate, methanol) of Trifolium pratense var. pratense, which is a very common plant species in our country and used in human nutrition as a protein source in some regions with its high protein content. Determination of the antioxidant capacity of the plant, which is also used in alternative medicine in some regions, is important in terms of determining its medicinal potential. For this purpose, total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities of the plant were determined using some common methods (DPPH, FRAP and PBD). In all antioxidant analyses except total antioxidant capacity, methanol extract showed high activity, and according to HPLC analysis, high levels of Gallic acid and Rosmarinic acid were found in the plant structure. In conclusion, the study revealed that Trifolium pratense var. pratense is an important source of bioactivity and has an important potential in terms of antioxidant activity. Keywords: Biological Activity, Phytochemicals, Chemical Composition, Trifolium Pratense Var Pratense