African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (9), pp. 1136-1139, 2 May 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Identification of a naturally occurring 2, 6-bis (1.1-dimethylethyl)-4-methylphenol from purple leaves of the halophyte plant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum

I. Bouftira^1,2, C. Abdelly² and S. Sfar¹

¹Laboratory of Galenic Pharmacy. Faculty of Pharmacy, Monastir. Tunisia.

²Laboratory of Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stresses, Center of Biotechnology, Technoparc of Borj Cédria, Tunisia.

*Corresponding authors E-mail: m.pillay@yahoo.co.uk. or ibtissem.bouftira@laposte.net. Tel: (0216) 73461000. Fax: (0216) 73461830.

Accepted 1 March, 2007

2, 6-Bis (1.1-dimethylethyl)-4-methylphenol (BHT) is a synthetic antioxidant used generally for food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The leaf extract from the halophyte plant, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, was fractionated by using semi-preparative HPLC. The different fractions were tested for their antioxidant activity using DPPH method. One fraction exhibited a high level of antioxidant activity. The molecule responsible for this antioxidant activity was identified as 2, 6-bis (1.1-dimethylethyl)-4-methylphenol) by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS).

Key words: BHT, HPLC, GC/MS, antioxidant activity, DPPH