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Abstract
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In this study, leaf and flower samples from Khansar and Kerman ecotypes of Leonurus
cardiaca were extracted with methanol and ethanol to analyze their phenolic content,
antioxidant activity, and scolicidal efficacy against Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces.
Total phenolic content analysis revealed higher values in methanolic extracts, with
Khansar leaf extracts yielding 37.6 ±1.2 mg GAE/g compared to Kerman's 31.1 ±1.4 mg
GAL/g. Total flavonoid content showed a similar trend, with Khansar leaf methanolic
extracts producing 21.6 ± 1.1 mg QE/g versus Kerman's 15.6 ± 1.1 mg QE/g. Total flavonol
content analysis corroborated these findings, with Khansar leaf methanolic extracts
yielding 7.5 ± 1.0 mg QE/g compared to Kerman's 6.6 ± 1.1 mg QE/g. DPPH radical
scavenging assays demonstrated concentration-dependent antioxidant activity, with
Khansar leaf methanolic extracts showing 62.2 ± 1.0% inhibition at 120 µg/ml, surpassing
Kerman's 59.0 ± 1.2%. Ferric-reducing power assays further supported these results, with
Khansar leaf methanolic extracts exhibiting an absorbance of 0.437 ± 0.005 at 400 µg/ml.
Scolicidal activity against E. granulosus protoscoleces increased with concentration, with
the Khansar ecotype achieving 100% mortality at 90 mg/ml after 30 minutes, and at 120
mg/ml after 20 minutes. The Kerman ecotype did not reach 100% mortality at 90 mg/ml
concentration, but at 120 mg/ml, it achieved 100% mortality after 30 minutes. These
results indicated that L. cardiaca extracts, particularly from Khansar and Kerman ecotypes,
show promise as a potential treatment for E. granulosus infections
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