Abstract:
Introduction. Haemochromatosis is a condition of iron accumulation in the body to a toxic level, caused
by a genetic disorder of the proteins involved in regulating iron absorption or due to multiple iron
transfusions in chronic anemia. This condition is associated with numerous health problems: heart failure,
cirrhosis of the liver, fibrosis, diabetes, arthritis, infertility, and cancer. Plants rich in polyphenolic
compounds could act as sources of natural chelators, as they have a greater ability to chelate with metallic
iron, forming soluble, stable complexes that can be excreted.
Aim of study. Determination of the chelating activity of some medicinal plants to find alternative sources
for the treatment of diseases caused by excess iron.
Methods and materials. The polyphenolic extracts were obtained from plant material of plants introduced
into the cultivation in the Republic of Moldova: Origanum vulgare ssp. vulgare L., O. vulgare ssp. hirtum
(Link) Ietswaart, Hyssopus officinalis L., Hypericum perforatum L. The total phenolic contents of dry
extracts were quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The chelating effect on ferrous ions was
determined according to Dinis et al. (1994) method with few changes. Ferrozine can quantitatively form
complexes with Fe²+. However, in the presence of chelating agents, the complex formation is disrupted
with the result that the red color of the complex is decreased. The absorbance of the analyzed samples was
recorded at 562 nm against the blank, EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) was used as a positive
control.
Results. Polyphenolic extracts were obtained with 70% ethanol by fractional maceration with agitation
from vegetal products (Hyperici flores, Origani herba, Hyssopi herba) collected from the collections of the
IGPhPP and the SPCFMP. The ethanolic extract of Hyperici flores is characterized by a high level of
phenolic compounds 105,918 mg GA/g, and in the ethanolic extracts obtained from the aerial parts of the
studied aromatic plants the total polyphenol content varies between 39,056-68,500 mg GA/g. The results
showed that H. perforatum flowers extract (45,7%) and extract from O. vulgare ssp. hirtum (39,2%), O.
vulgare ssp. vulgare (37,3%), H. officinalis (32,5%) aerial parts had lower iron-chelating activity compared
to EDTA (99,03%) – standard iron chelator.
Conclusion. In this study, all extracts showed different metal chelating activity, but the extract from the
flowers of H. perforatum showed the greatest activity and can be considered as an effective source of
chelating iron for further research.
