FATTY ACID CONTENT AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING (DPPH) ACTIVITIES OF SOME OF BRYOPHYTES EXTRACTS

In this study, DPPH and fatty acid contents were investigated of some taxa belonging to Neckeraceae (Alleniella complanata, Alleniella besseri, Exsertotheca crispa) and Hypnaceae (Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum resupinatum, Hypnum andoi) family collected from Kamilet Valley (Artvin-Arhavi) in 2017. DPPH free radical scavenging activity was determined according to the method developed by Brand-Williams et al. The fatty acids in extracts were analyzed via gas chromatography after transforming them into methyl esters. According to the obtained results, it was determined that the DPPH scavenging effects of taxa from Hypnaceae family were significantly higher than those of taxa from Neckeraceae family, and that the free radical scavenging effects of taxa from Hypnaceae family varied depending on the amount of extract. The saturated fatty acids content of the Neckeraceae and the unsaturated fatty acids of the Hypnaceae were found to be richer (p<0.001). The high DPPH activity in our study, especially in Hypnum species, suggested that Hypnum species were richer in terms of phenolic content. These compounds can be used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food sectors, if both of these species are phenolic and fatty acid content can be obtained as pure.