Introduction: In recent years, the global incidence of cancer has risen sharply, becoming the second leading cause of mortality after cardiovascular diseases. Beyond these major health concerns, free radicals are identified as key contributors to diabetes, hepatitis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, aging, and related disorders. These reactive molecules are intermediate products of various redox reactions, characterized by their electrically neutral, multi-atomic structures containing unpaired electrons. Antioxidants play a crucial role in inhibiting lipid peroxidation in cellular membranes, thereby protecting cells from oxidative damage and degradation.
Carthamus tinctorius L. is used to improve blood circulation and to treat cardiovascular and gynecological diseases. It has also been used as an antiseptic, analgesic, antipyretic, and antidote.
Therefore, as it has been widely used in traditional medicine, the extraction of Carthamus tinctorius L., determination of the qualitative and quantitative content of certain biologically active compounds, and evaluation of antioxidant activity formed the basis of this study. Methods: The study was conducted at the laboratory of the Mongolian National University of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the pharmaceutical chemistry sector of the Institude of Pharmaceutical Studies. The raw material of Carthamus tinctorius L. was used to prepare the extract, and in accordance with the Mongolian National Pharmacopoeia method, the total flavonoids, safflomin A, and antioxidant activity were determined. The following equipment was used in the study: thin-layer chromatography plates (Silica gel 60 F254, Germany), UV lamp (MZ-01, China), water bath (DK-98-IIA), Soxhlet apparatus (TC SIMAX 200 mL, 8730/200), and spectrophotometer (UV/Vis-1700, Macy, China). The aerial parts of Carthamus tinctorius L. were extracted using remaceration, repercolation, and circulation methods with 70% ethanol and distilled water (1:10). The qualitative analysis of total flavonoids in the extract was conducted by thin-layer chromatography, quantitative content was determined using spectrophotometry, and antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH method. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS-22.0 software. Conclution The raw material of Carthamus tinctorius L. was extracted using 70% ethanol with remaceration, repercolation, and circulation methods to obtain an appropriate extract. The total flavonoid content in the extract was determined by spectrophotometry, with the circulation method proving to be the most suitable for extraction. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis of the ethanol extract of Carthamus finctorius L. showed a brown-yellow spot at the same level as the standard substance quercetin (Rf - 0.92), indicating the presence of flavonoids. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the ethanol extract revealed safflomin A at a concentration of 0.315 mg/mL at a retention time of 15.082 minutes. Antioxidant activity, as assessed by the DPPH method, showed inhibition of 93.625% for a 1 mL sample, 63.125% for a 3 mL sample, and 5.125% for a 5 mL sample.