ANTIOXIDANTS MARINA D. TOPUZOVIĆ, MILAN S. STANKOVIĆ, DRAGANA Z. JAKOVLJEVIĆ*, BILJANA M. BOJOVIĆ *Corresponding author Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, str. Radoja Domanovića No. 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Republic of Serbia Dragana Z. Jakovljević Plant part variability of Sambucus ebulus L. secondary metabolites content and antioxidant activity KEYWORDS: Sambucus ebulus, antioxidant activity, flavonoids, phenolic compound. Total phenolic content, concentration of flavonoids and antioxidant activity of different extracts from Abstract leaves, stems, roots and friuts of Sambucus ebulus L. were determined. The total phenolic content in the extracts was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu's reagent and their amounts ranged from 29.87 to 126.10 mg GAE/g. The concentration of flavonoids varied from 4.50 to 97.65 mg RUE/g. Antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH reagent and expressed as IC50 values (ranged from 47.37 to 710.94 µg/ml), as well as compared to the results for Ginkgo biloba standardized extract and chlorogenic acid as a synthetic supstance. The ethyl acetate extract from fruits and methanolic leaves extract contain the greatest concentration of phenolic compounds and showed strong antioxidant activity. The reports related to our research suggest large contribution of separate analysis of plant parts and could help for maximum exploitation for natural sources of active phenolic compounds and antioxidants from S. ebulus. INTRODUCTION tannins, steroids, caffeic acid derivatives and glycosides have been also found in S. ebulus (15,16). Recent Sambucus ebulus L. (danewort, dwarf eder, elderberry) researcheh of S. ebulus evidenced antiviral (17), belongs to the family Adoxaceae (order Dipsacales). It is a antiinflammatory (18,19), anti – Helicobacter pylori (20) and wild-growning, perennial herbaceous plant with unbranched antibacterial effects (21). stems up to 2 m high. The pinnate leaved stems growing from Harmful effects resulted from the disequilibrium in the a perennial underground rhizome and terminate with a antioxidant-prooxidant balance can be largely prevented by corymb inflorescence with white flowers or black berries the intake of antioxidant substances (22,23). Wild plants are during autumn. S. ebulus is distributed across southern and inexpensive source of antioxidants and have the potential to central Europe, southwest Asia and northwest Africa; prefers protect human body from cancer, diabetes, inflammatory light habitats, but can tolerate shading. The small berries of and cardiovascular diseases (24). Crude extracts from plant the Sambucus species are rarely consumed as a fruit, mainly materials rich in phenolics are increasingly of interest because are processed into juice and generating large amounts of they retard oxidative degradation of lipids and thereby wastes (1). Leaves, roots and rhizomes were applied to treat improve the quality and nutritional value of food (25). The nettle and bee bites, arthritis and sore-throat (2). Effects of antioxidants obtained from plants are of greater benefit in danewort in the treatment of edema, eczema, burn, urticaria, comparasion to the synthetic ones, due to their natural origin. infectious wounds and cold were also reported (3-5). The use of natural antioxidants from plants does not induce Previous studies on S. ebulus phytochemical composition side effects, while synthetic antioxidants can have genotoxic resulting in the isolation of four iridoid glycosides from root effects (26,27). For plant species with a long history of material and six iridoid glycosides from leaves (6-9). A commercial and medical uses, identification of plant material number of lectins, known as ebulins, have been isolated from with the highest concentration of secondary metabolites leaves, fruits and rhizomes (10-12) while according to increases the possibility of explotation. Separate examination Jimenez and co-workers (13) S. ebulus blossoms express two of plant parts allows a significant contribution to medicinal D-galactose-binding lectins. The danewort flowers contain plant study and their pharmaceutical applications (28,29). about 0.3% of an essential oil and large number og alkanes Also, the extraction method significantly influences the type of (14). Numerous phytochemical compounds like flavonoids, bioactive compound extracted (30). 60 Agro FOOD Industry Hi Tech - vol. 27(2) - March/April 2016.