Cottonseed flavonoids as lipid antioxidants

Abstract

Methanolic extracts of cottonseeds were found to possess antioxidant activity. Separation of antioxidant components was achieved by paper, thin layer (TLC) and gas liquid chromatography (GLC) and spectral analysis. Chromatographic technique indicated that the flavonoids quercetin and rutin were the major flavonoids present. GLC analysis of the cottonseed extract eluted from TLC plates, developed in n-butanol/acetic acid/water (4:1:5, v/v/v) and ethyl acetate/methyl ethyl ketone/formic acid/water (5:3:1:1, v/v/v) solvents, corresponded in retention times to the rutin standard (10⁻⁴ M). TMS derivatives of the aglycone fraction, prepared by acid hydrolysis, correlated to the retention time of quercetin. Spectral analysis of the aglycone fraction also indicated quercetin derivatives to be present in cottonseed. The glycosyl substitution of the flavonoids were identified by the 3 chromatographic procedures to be glucose and rhamnose. Chromogenic spray reagents were used to further characterize the cottonseed flavonoids and flavonoid components on TLC and paper chromatography. The investigation, therefore, demonstrated that quercetin derivatives appear to be the main flavonoid species in cottonseed. Rutin was found to be one of the major quercetin glycosides. Quercetin and rutin are shown to possess potent antioxidant activity.