Abstract:

Background and Aims: Stachys L. species, which are members of the Lamiaceae family, have long been applied for their therapeutic benefits especially to cure cough, infection, genital tumors, ulcers, inflammatory illnesses, and wounds in Anatolian traditional medicine. In the current study, various extracts prepared from the aerial parts of Stachys cretica subsp. bulgarica Rech.f. (SC), Stachys byzantina K. Koch (SB), Stachys thirkei K. Koch and were tested for their in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticandidal properties. Methods: The aerial parts of three Stachys species were sequentially extracted using n-hexane, chloroform, and methanol. Aqueous extracts of each sample was also prepared by infusion process. The total phenolic content of each extract was determined and the contribution of the biological activities in the samples was evaluated. To assess the antioxidant capacity, samples were studied using CUPRAC activity, DPPH• free radical scavenging, and FRAP methods. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was tested against 7 bacteria and 3 yeast. Results: The infusion and methanol extract exhibited the strongest antioxidant potential and also had the highest percentage of phenolics among the studied extracts. The n-hexane extracts of all studied species showed considerable antifungal activity with MIC values ranging from 312.5-78.12 mg/L. Conclusion: According to our results, three Stachys species were found to be beneficial for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

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