Chemical composition and antioxidant potential of the Pine species growing in Greece
2002
Guri, A.
There is growing interest in the biologic activities of plant extracts such as those obtained from the bark of the French maritime pine Pinus maritima. The bark of the pines has been utilized in folk medicine for more than 2000 years. Indications of the therapeutic use of the pine bark can be found in the 4th century B.C., when Hippocrates mentioned its use against inflammatory diseases. In the Thesaurus Medicaminum, pine bark was considered helpful for wound healing, and in old Europe pine bark was utilized against inflammation and to overcome the symptoms of scurvy. Other uses included topical application on skin ulcers and general use against skin disorders. In the New World, native Americans used the bark of the pine as a food, a beverage, and as a remedy for various conditions, such as inflamed wounds or ulcers, now recognized to have free radical involvement. Standardized pine extracts are currently popular OTCs and are composed of a mixture of flavonoids, mainly procyanidins and phenoloic acids. In the framework of our investigations into the isolation of biocative natural products we examined the antioxidant efficacy of six Oinus species (Pinus pinea, P. brutia, P. radiata, P. halepensis, P. attemuata and P. nigra) growing in natural stands in Greece. Specimens of bark and fresh needles were extracted with a variety of organic solvents and the efficient concentration and antiradical efficiency of the extracts were evaluated using the chemiluminescence assay and DPPH test. Some extracts of P. brutia, and P. pinea showed significant levels of activity comparable to those of the commercial products obtained from other Pine species. The chemical composition of the most active fractions obtained following chromatographic separations was analyzed by LC-MS and discussed.
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