Abstract
The fresh stem and leaves Rheum ribes, species of Polygonaceae family, are consumed as vegetable in Lebanon, Iran and eastern Turkey. Recently, crude drug materials from this plant are used in pharmacological research in Asian countries. In this study, in vitro phytochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the extracts prepared at 10-100 mg/mL concentrations by using ethyl acetate, hexane, methanol and distilled water from stem parts of Rheum ribes were examined. The extraction efficiency varies depending on the solvents and the highest extraction efficiency was calculated as %25.3 at methanol extract. The highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined 0.80 ± 0.00 mg GAE/g and 0.321 ± 0.00 mg RE/g at 100 mg/mL concentration of methanolic extract. DPPH· radical scavenging activity of methanolic stem extract was %91.10±0.51 (IC50 dose 10.50 mg/mL). The highest Fe(II) ions chelating activity (49.70±3.10%), reduction capacity (0.19±0.00) and superoxide anion scavenging activity (39.20 ± 2.40%) were recorded at methanol extract. Ethyl acetate, hexane and methanol extracts of Rheum ribes not showed antibacterial activity against test bacteria. Antibacterial activity of distilled water extract was in the range of 9.00±1.00 and 14.50±1.50 mm. The highest inhibitory effect was observed against S. aureus with 14.5 ±1.50 mm zone diameter.