Interspecific Variation in the Antioxidant Potential of Culinary and Medicinal Herbs

Anna Rusaczonek (), Patryk Sankiewicz, Maria Duszyn, Mirosława Górecka, Katarzyna Chwedorzewska and Ewa Muszyńska ()
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Anna Rusaczonek: Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Patryk Sankiewicz: Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Maria Duszyn: Department of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Mirosława Górecka: Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Katarzyna Chwedorzewska: Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
Ewa Muszyńska: Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-20

Abstract: Herbs are valued for their antioxidant richness and traditional use in cuisine and medicine. This study analysed wild herbs (e.g., Achillea, Lamium) and cultivated spices (Salvia, Artemisia) for their bioactive compounds. It was found that antioxidant profiles varied notably among species, even within the same family. Helichrysum italicum and Salvia officinalis had the highest polyphenol levels, while Achillea millefolium and Ocimum basilicum had the lowest. Total polyphenols did not always correlate with antioxidant activity. For instance, Petroselinum hortense and Salvia rosmarinus showed high antioxidant activity despite low polyphenol levels, whereas Levisticum officinale and Artemisia dracunculus combined both. Mentha spicata , M. x citrata , Origanum vulgare , and S. officinalis were rich in carotenoids, while H. italicum showed high α-carotene but low levels of other carotenoids. Most Lamiaceae accumulated a high amount of chlorophylls and polyphenols. Cultivated herbs like M. spicata , M. x citrata , and S. officinalis exhibited stronger and more diverse properties than wild species. It can be concluded that taxonomy alone does not predict antioxidant potential. The differences observed may be attributed to species-specific metabolic pathways, ecological adaptations, or environmental factors influencing phytochemical expression. These findings highlight the importance of conducting species-level screenings in the search for plant-derived antioxidants with potential therapeutic applications.

Keywords: antioxidant activity; bioactive compounds; carotenoids; chlorophylls; polyphenols (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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