Campanula latifola, Giant Bellflower: Ethno-Botany, Phytochemical and Antioxidant Evaluation

Abstract

Campanula latifolia is a plant of Campanulaceae family, commonly known as Giant bellflower. Campanula genus is mentioned in Iranian medicine sources with various names such as kaff- e- Maryam and Gol-e-estekani. The aim of this study was to assay the different groups of chemical compounds and to investigate the antioxidant effects of ethanolic extract of aerial parts and root of this plant. After providing 70% alcoholic extract of aerial parts and root, qualitative tests were performed to evaluate anthocyanins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, sterols, triterpenoids, and alkaloids. Tests of antioxidant effects were evaluated by DPPH free radical scavenging effect and the content of phenolic compounds in the extracts using Folin-Ciocalteu method. Phytochemical studies indicate that there are compounds of cardiac glycoside, triterpene, and sterols. In the quantitative analysis of the compounds of the two plant extracts, the total amount of phenols were measured 0.053 and 0.037 (mg Gallic acid/g extract) in aerial parts and root extracts, respectively. The amount of IC50 of DPPH radical scavenging activity of the plant has also been 1163.636 μg / ml for the aerial parts extract and 1419.354 μg / ml for the root extract. Considering the results and the presence of cardiac glycosides, triterpenoids, and sterols, further phytochemical and pharmacological studies are suggested.