Antioxidant and Anticholinesterase Potential of Barbarea vulgaris

Barbarea vulgaris is a wild plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family and attracts attention with its chemical structure rich in secondary metabolites. This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities of the aerial parts of B. vulgaris. Antioxidant capacity was determined by total antioxidant level (TAS), total oxidant level (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) using Rel Assay diagnostic kits and was also supported by free radical scavenging (DPPH) and ferric reducing capacity (FRAP) methods. TAS value of the plant extract was measured as 7.317±0.081 mmol/L, TOS value as 13.524±0.070 µmol/L and OSI value as 0.185±0.001. In DPPH and FRAP tests, 82.377±1.646 mg TE/g and 112.547±1.370 mg TE/g values were reached, respectively. In cholinesterase enzyme inhibition evaluations, it was determined that B. vulgaris showed significant inhibition at 50.79±1.06 µg/mL for AChE and 73.07±2.00 µg/mL for BChE. Although the activity was lower when compared to positive control galantamine, it was found to be remarkable for a plant-derived extract. This anticholinesterase activity, reported for the first time in the literature, reveals that B. vulgaris may have not only antioxidant but also neuroprotective potential. The findings provide an important scientific basis for evaluating this plant among natural antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitor sources.