Distribution of phytochemicals in stems and leaves of Cichorium intybus and Matricaria chamomilla: assessment of their antioxidant and antimicrobial potential

Cichorium intybus (Chicory) and Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile) are well-known medicinal herbs. On the basis of their medicinal values, we analyzed the distribution of phytochemicals in their stems and leaves, including their antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. The phytochemicals were analyzed using standard biochemical tests. The antioxidant potential, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoids were determined by DPPH free radical scavenging activity, Folin-Ciocalteu method and aluminum chloride colorimetric assays, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of extracts was analyzed against 4 pathogenic bacteria; namely, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. Aqueous extracts of Chicory stems and leaves exhibited better DPPH free radical scavenging activity (50% DPPH inhibition at 6.01 ± 0.28 μg/ml) than aqueous extracts of Chamomile (50% inhibition at 18.90 ± 0.37 μg/ml). This corresponded to higher flavonoid and phenol concentrations in Chicory stems (17.24 ± 0.48 μg/ml and 19.77 ± 0.20 μg/ml, respectively) and leaves (18.36 ± 0.32 μg/ml and 10.8 ± 0.12 μg/ml, respectively) than in Chamomile (11.5 ± 0.56 μg/ml total flavonoid concentration and 19.28 ± 0.87 μg/ml total phenol concentration in leaves and 7.76 ± 0.32 μg/ml and 10.47 ± 0.46 μg/ml in stem, respectively). The maximum antimicrobial activity against all 4 bacterial strains was observed in leaf and stem extracts of C. intybus, as compared to M. chamomilla. Our results confirmed that there is a specific distribution of phytochemicals in stems and leaves of both Chicory and Chamomile. Moreover, both these plants are potential sources of natural antioxidants and antimicrobials and thus can be used for medicinal and pharmaceutical purposes.