Comparative analysis of antioxidant activities and phenolic contents in selected wild edible plants

This study presents a comparative evaluation of the antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of widely consumed wild edible plants in Türkiye. Various biochemical parameters, including moisture content, ash content, pH, titratable acidity, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonol (Tflavonol), and total flavonoid (Tflavonoid) content, were determined alongside antioxidant activities assessed by FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, and CUPRAC assays. Significant variations were observed among the plant species. Polygonum alpinum exhibited the highest TPC (66.27 mg GAE/100 g) and CUPRAC antioxidant capacity (38.08 mg TEAC/100 g), whereas Hylotelephium telephium showed the lowest antioxidant activity (TPC: 7.99 mg GAE/100 g; ABTS: 7.11 mg TEAC/100 g). Urtica dioica demonstrated notable antioxidant activity, particularly in the FRAP (10.74 mg TEAC/100 g) and DPPH (7.89 mg TEAC/100 g) assays. Principal component analysis (PCA) effectively distinguished Heracleum spondylium, Rumex tuberosus, and Polygonum alpinum from the other species, clustering them based on their elevated antioxidant and phenolic content. The findings emphasize the nutritional significance and functional food potential of these wild plants, offering valuable insights for future applications in the food and health industries.