Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
RUMEX DENTATUS
LINNAEUS
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Famiy: Polygonaceae
Common name: Toothed dock
Distribution: Eurasia, North Africa
Habitat: Lake shores, edges of cultivated ields, moist valleys
Description: This annual or biennial herbal species produces a slender and
erect stem of 60-80 cm height. The leaves (13 cm) are either oval or lance-
shaped with wavy margins. The inlorescence has a cluster of 15-25 lowers.
Compounds and activities: The methanol extracts of this species pos-
sess lavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, anthroquinones, and tannins, viz.,
kaempferol-3-O -β-galactoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-glucoside, kaempferol-
3-O-β-rutinoside, isorhamnetin 3-O-β-galactoside, isorhamnetin 3-O-β-
glucoside, and isorhamnetin 3-O-β-rutinoside. These bioactive compounds
showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activities besides serving as chemo-
therapeutic agents. The total phenolic content in the ethyl acetate fractions
of leaves and roots of this species was high, and the values were 169.5 and
257.4 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract, respectively. The ethyl acetate
fractions of leaves and roots exhibited strong DPPH activity, and the DPPH
IC
50
values were 0.021 and 0.012 mg/ml of leaves and roots, respectively
(Elzaawely and Tawata, 2012). Owing to its high levels of phenolic com-
pounds and associated strong antioxidant properties, this species could be
utilized as a natural source of antioxidant in the food industry.
