Antioxidant activity and quantification of phenolic compounds in methanolic extract of Origanum majorana L.

Origanum majorana L. is an aromatic species extensively utilized in traditional medicine due to its broad spectrum of biological activities. The present study was conducted to assess the antioxidant potential of the methanolic extract derived from the aerial parts of this plant. Total polyphenol content was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, while total flavonoid content was quantified via the aluminum chloride colorimetric assay. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay. The results revealed that the methanolic extract contains a high level of phenolic compounds, with a concentration of 210.89 ± 3.36 mg GAE/g DW, and flavonoids, with a concentration of 68.61 ± 2.40 mg QE/g DW. The DPPH assay demonstrated notable antiradical activity of the extract, with an IC₅₀ value of 183.7 µg/mL, compared with ascorbic acid used as a reference standard, which exhibited an IC₅₀ value of 5.68 µg/mL. These findings highlight the antioxidant potential of Origanum majorana L. and indicate that this activity is closely associated with its high phenolic content. Consequently, this plant may constitute a promising natural source of bioactive compounds with potential pharmacological applications.