OBTAINING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A SELECTIVE PELARGONIUM GRAVEOLENS L’HÉR. DRY EXTRACT WITH POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY IN METABOLIC DISEASES

The aim of our study was the obtaining, phytochemical characterization, evaluation of antioxidant activity and cytotoxic effects of a selective dry extract obtained from indigenous Pelargonium graveolens L'Her (rose geranium, rose scented geranium) aerial parts, with potential therapeutic activity in metabolic diseases (diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia). Rose geranium flowers, leaves and aerial parts quality were determined by means of spectrophotometric methods (quantitative determination of anthocyanins, total phenolic content, flavones and phenolcarboxylic acids). The dry selective extract (obtained in 50% ethanol) contains: 0.45 g anthocyanins (expressed as cyanine chloride)/100 g dry extract and 45.73 g total phenolic content (expressed as tannic acid equivalents)/100 g dry extract. HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) analysis revealed the presence of epigallocatechin and catechin derivatives. The dry extract antioxidant capacity was assessed using ABTS(.+) (2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) free radical scavenger activity and ferric reducing power assay. Antioxidant activity was expressed as EC50 (mu g/mL) (which represent the dry extract's concentration that inhibited 50% of ABTS(.+) activity/the concentration that provides 0.5 absorbance for ferric reducing power assay - EC50 = 17.53 mu g/mL/EC50 = 74.43 mu g/mL). The extract induced dose and time dependent cytotoxic effect against Daphnia magna invertebrates. Our preliminary results offer encouraging premises for obtaining a phytomedicine with potential therapeutic effect in metabolic diseases.