Antioxidative effect of extracts from Erodium cicutarium L.

Extracts from Erodium cicutarium L. (EC) and some standard substances present in EC extracts were tested for their antioxidative properties during Fe(2+)-induced triglyceride oxidation. Hydrophobic fractions such as petroleum ether (PEE), benzene (BE) and chloroform I (ChE I) extracts as well as hydrophilic fractions i.e. water (WE) and ethyl acetate (EAE) showed an antioxidative effect. Among the tested substances vitamin C and some polyphenolic compounds: tannin, (+)-catechin and gallic acid exhibited antioxidative activity, stronger than the one of the mentioned extracts.