African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Full Length Research Paper

Identification of a naturally occurring 2, 6-bis (1.1-dimethylethyl)-4-methylphenol from purple leaves of the halophyte plant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum

I. Bouftira1,2, C. Abdelly2 and S. Sfar1
  1Laboratory of Galenic Pharmacy. Faculty of Pharmacy, Monastir. Tunisia. 2Laboratory of Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stresses, Center of Biotechnology, Technoparc of Borj Cédria, Tunisia.
Email: [email protected]. or [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 01 March 2007
  •  Published: 31 May 2007

Abstract

 

2, 6-Bis (1.1-dimethylethyl)-4-methylphenol (BHT) is a synthetic antioxidant used generally for food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The leaf extract from the halophyte plant, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, was fractionated by using semi-preparative HPLC. The different fractions were tested for their antioxidant activity using DPPH method. One fraction exhibited a high level of antioxidant activity. The molecule responsible for this antioxidant activity was identified as 2, 6-bis (1.1-dimethylethyl)-4-methylphenol) by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS).

 

Key words: BHT, HPLC, GC/MS, antioxidant activity, DPPH