Phytochemical and antioxidant properties of Algerian Medicago Sativa L. Water, Ethenol and Chloroform extract

Abstract

Plant natural products have a long history of being a rich source of neuroactive drugs.The total phenolic and flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity of ethanol, chloroform and aqueous extracts of AlgerianMedicagoSativaL, leaves were measured to discover new potential sources of Algerian natural antioxidants and neuroactives. All extracts were non-neurotoxic up to 1 mg/ ml for 24 h exposure. The total phenolcontent of M.Sativa extracts ranged between 38 and 69 mg GAE per g extracts. All of the extracts displayed antioxidant capacityassessed by two methods, but at different levels depending on the concentration and the extraction solvent used. The overall antioxidant potency was in the order water > chloroform> ethanol extracts, and the phenolic content exhibited a positive correlation with the antioxidant activity of M. Sativa extracts.Despite a weaker antioxidant activity, the ethanol extract elicited a calcium spike and suppressed the KCl-induced depolarisation response in neurons, indicating effect on ligand-and/or voltage gated calcium channels. In contrast, the chloroform and water extractsdisplayed no apparent direct functional effects. In conclusion, the antioxidant and functional properties related to phenolic content of Algerian Medicago Sativa L. in water and ethanol extracts, respectively.