Abstract
Sideritis species have been known as medicinal plants since ancient times, and used as tea in Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Spain. They are also used for the treatment of several ailments such as a cough, common cold, and gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of the present study was to perform the chemical composition, antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and anti-tyrosinase activities of the essential oils of Sideritis albiflora and S. leptoclada. β-caryophyllene (21.2%) and Germacrene D (17.9%) were identified as the major compounds in S. albiflora and S. leptoclada essential oils, respectively. The essential oil of S. albiflora showed the highest lipid peroxidation inhibitory (IC(50): 73.8 ± 0.8 µg/mL), DPPH free radical scavenging (28.3±0.1%), ABTS cation radical scavenging (IC(50): 50.6 ± 1.0 µg/mL), reducing power (A(0.05): 181.7 ± 0.6 µg/mL), acetylcholinesterase (22.1 ± 0.4%), butyrylcholinesterase (IC(50): 157.2 ± 0.9 µg/mL) and tyrosinase (15.2 ± 0.4%) inhibitory activities. Moreover, S. albiflora essential oil had rich total phenolic and flavonoid contents indicating 41.5 ± 0.8 µg PEs/mg and 21.4 ± 1.0 µg QEs/mg respectively. This study suggests that consumption of Sideritis species as tea may protect one against melanogenesis, amnesia, and oxidative stress without any observable side effect.