Effects of Some Micronutrients on Antioxidant Activity of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.)

The species of the Lamiaceae family such as thyme possess appreciable antioxidant activity. The aim of trial was to study the effects of some micronutrients on antioxidant activity of thyme. The study was conducted at the Experimental Fields of Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture and the Lab of Biology Department, Urmia University, West Azerbaijan, Iran, during 2015–2016. In the trial used randomized complete block design in three replications. Control, Fe, Zn, B and Mn were used as fertilizer treatments. Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, nitric oxide radical scavenging activity and Chain–breaking activity were determined. According to the results the effect of micronutrients in the first harvest on total phenols content, total flavonoids content, nitric oxide radical scavenging, DPPH radical scavenging activity and Chain–breaking activity was significant whereas in second harvest only nitric oxide radical scavenging activity was significant. In terms of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, nitric oxide radical scavenging activity, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and Chain–breaking activity the best treatment was Mn, B, control and Mn respectively.