Introduction
Many plants, particularly medicinal plants, have been extensively
studied for their antioxidant activity in recent years. It is
believed that an increased intake of food rich in naturalantioxidants is associated with lower risks of degenerative
diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases and cancer [1].
Antioxidants from aromatic, spicy, medicinal, and other
plants were studied to develop natural antioxidant formulations
for food, cosmetic, and other applications [2]. There are
three major classes of plant chemicals: terpenoids, phenolicmetabolites, and alkaloids [3]. Among these three groups,
phenolic compounds are the most important for dietary applications
and the most extensively researched [4]. Phenolic
compounds include phenolic acids (hydroxybenzoic and
hydroxycinnamic acids), polyphenols (hydrolyzable and
condensed tannins), and flavonoids. These compounds protect
plants, fruits, and vegetables from oxidative damage and
have been used as antioxidants by humans. Finding new and
safe antioxidants from natural sources is of great interest for
applications in natural antioxidants, functional foods, and
neutraceuticals. Phytochemical screening is one of the
methods that have been used to explore antioxidant compounds
in plants.