Chemical and Antioxidant Profile of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Stachys Officinalis L., Stachys Palustris L., Stachys Sylvatica L. from Romania

Stachys officinalis L., Stachys palustris L., Stachys sylvatica L. (Lamiaceae) are widely used as herbal remedies. In this study, comparative assessment of the phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanin, and tannins content, together with antioxidant activity of the extracts obtained from flowers, leaves and stems was performed. Phenolic acids determined by the HPLC method reached highest values in flower extract of S. palustris, stem extract of S. officinalis, and leaf extracts of S. sylvatica. Flavonoids were found at values exceeding 100 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/g dry weights in all three species, based on the spectrophotometric method. Anthocyanins were detectable only in extracts from flowers. S. officinalis stood out for the highest content of anthocyanins and tannins. Antioxidant activity was present in all three species studied, with S. palustris standing out for the most intense ferric reducing antioxidant power. The results obtained lead to the validation of applicability of these plants for curative and food purposes, given their variety and richness in bioactive compounds and antioxidants.