Traditional veterinary practices in
Kazakhstan rely heavily on medicinal plants for treating livestock diseases. However, scientific validation of these plants' phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties remains limited. This research's objective was to assess the antioxidant properties and examine the phytochemical composition of commonly used medicinal plants in
Kazakhstan for livestock treatment: Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Ephedra equisetina, Rhodiola rosea, Hypericum perforatum, and Artemisia absinthium. Fresh samples of the selected plants were collected from local markets in Kazakhstan. Phytochemical screening was conducted using standard methods to detect tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and terpenoids. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined spectrophotometrically. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. To pinpoint and measure important phenolic components in the extracts exhibiting highest activity, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) examination was conducted. All five plants exhibited diverse phytochemical profiles, with flavonoids and terpenoids being ubiquitous. G. uralensis and R. rosea demonstrated the highest total phenolic (۸۲.۷ ± ۳.۵ and ۷۵.۹ ± ۲.۸ mg GAE/g, respectively) and flavonoid (۴۵.۳ ± ۱.۹ and ۴۰.۲ ± ۱.۷ mg QE/g, respectively) contents. These two species also showed the most potent antioxidant activities, with G. uralensis exhibiting the lowest IC۵۰ value (۴۲.۸ ± ۱.۷ μg mL-۱) in the DPPH assay and the highest FRAP value (۱۲۸۵.۶ ± ۵۲.۳ μmol Fe(II)/g). The analysis revealed robust positive associations linking total phenolic content (r > ۰.۹۵, p < ۰.۰۱) and antioxidant activities. HPLC analysis revealed distinct phenolic profiles for G. uralensis and R. rosea, with high concentrations of rutin and chlorogenic acid, respectively. This research presents experimental corroboration, lending credence to the traditional use of these medicinal plants in livestock treatment, highlighting their rich phytochemical composition and potent antioxidant properties. G. uralensis and R. rosea emerged as particularly promising sources of natural antioxidants.