Wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium L.) Herb Extract Rich in Caffeoylquinic Acids - a Promising Mitochondria Targeted Antioxidant

Abstract

Introduction: Artemisia absinthium L. (wormwood) is a herb of the Asteraceae family, a perennial,aromatic, medical plant growing throughout the territory of Lithuania and all around the world.Nowadays, it has been discovered that wormwood has biological activities such as antibacterial,neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and cell membrane stabilizing [1]. The antioxidant effect is based on the ability of biologically active compounds to reduce the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) also to bind free radicals and protect cells from oxidative stress [2]. The aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical composition of wormwood extracts and to evaluate their antioxidant activity as well as the effect on the mitochondrial ROS production. Materials and methods: Plant herb was collected in Telsiai district, Resketenai village (55°46’33.3’’N 22°10’35.7’’E (WGS). After drying the specimen were pulverized (powdered) and raw material was extracted with 70 % ethanol and lyophilized. Bioactive compounds were determined by using HPLCPDA method. Antioxidant activity was determined by ABTS and FRAP methods. Preparation of rat’s kidney mitochondria was performed using a differential centrifugation method and ROS generation wasmeasured fluorimetrically. Results: 12 compounds (neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, caffeic acid, luteolin-7-rutinoside, rutin, luteol-7-glucoside, isorhamnetin-3-rutinoside, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, luteolin and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid) were identified in A. absinthium L. aqueous extract. The predominant compounds were chlorogenic acid (23.7 mg/g) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (19.7 mg/g). We revealed, that lyophilized aqueous wormwood extract possessed antiradical (92,17±10,14 µM TE/g) and reducing (2731,67±44,10 µM TE/g) activities. In addition, the lyophilized aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium L. reduced the mitochondrial ROS generation by 27-57 %. Conclusions: We revealed that Artemisia absinthium L. herb aqueous extract is rich in chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. A. absinthium L. aqueous extract showed reducing and antiradical activities and significantly diminished mitochondrial ROS generation. Our data show that aqueous wormwood extract rich in caffeoylquinic acids may be a promising mitochondria-targeted antioxidant.