# Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of _Asteraceae_ Family Plants
###### Abstract  
Plants of the _Asteraceae_ family have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Now, forgotten for some time, they are gaining popularity again. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the proximate composition and antioxidant activity of infloresences and leaves of _Taraxacum officinal_ [PERSON]. [PERSON]. (common dandelion), _Tnanectum vulgare_ L. (tansy) and _Solidago virgnaum_ L. (European goldenrod). The content of dry matter, crude protein, crude ash and crude fat was determined according to the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). The content of total polyphenols was determined using methanol extracts. Antioxidant activity was determined by three methods. The protein content was the highest in _Taraxacum officinal_. The fat and ash content increased in the sequence of _Solidago virgnaum_ < _Tnanectum vulgare_ < _Tranaxacum officinal_. The total content of polyphenols in the material and its antioxidant activity (AA) were different between species. Changes were also observed in the morphological parts of the plants. The results of the research encourage the use of not only those parts of plants known but also infloresences or leaves, which can be excellent ingredients for drugs and other preparations used in medicine or cosmology and also in the food industry.  
dandelion; goldenrod; infloresence; leaves; proximate composition; tansy; total polyphenols +
Footnote †: journal: _Sci._  
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diuretic, saluretic and immunity-increasing properties are prepared [17; 18; 19; 20; 21]. In addition, dandelion leaves and leaf extracts are used in cooking and in the food industry [22; 23; 24].  
Tansy (_Tanactum vulgar_ L.), same as the dandelion, is common, and the main raw material is the inflorescences. Its use in traditional medicine is not as common today as that of other herbs. This is mainly due to the side effect of severe congestion in internal organs, which can be dangerous for human health. Responsible for these effects is thujone, found in tansy herb [25]. The composition of its inflorescences is dominated by essential oils, flavonoids, terpenes, organic acids and lactones [26]. Due to the presence of these substances, tansy shows antiparasitic (human roundworm, pinworms), anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, analgesic, sedative, antispasmodic, stabilizing metabolic processes, cholesteric, detoxifying and anticancer properties [27; 28; 29; 30]. The antioxidant effect of tansy leaves was also confirmed [12; 31]. Currently, it is mainly used externally as a repellent for insects (lice, flies, mosquitoes, ticks, flies), as well as for human scalp care (excessive greasey, dandruff).  
The raw material of European goldenrod/woundwort (_Solidago vrigaurea_ L.) is the aboveground part of the plant collected during the flowering period. The goldenrod herb contains polyphenols, saponins and essential oils; this mainly applies to its leaves [32; 33; 34; 35]. Thanks to these ingredients, goldenrod herb show diuretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, as well as hypotensive and sedative effects [36; 37; 38; 39]. Thus far, only the chemical composition and antioxidant properties of the whole goldenrod herb have been analyzed [33; 40]. There is little information in the available literature on the proximate composition and antioxidant properties of common dandelion, tansy, European goldenrod.  
The aim of this study was to determine and compare the proximate composition and antioxidant activity of inflorescences and leaves of common dandelion (_Tanvacuum officinal_ [PERSON]), tansy (_Tanactum vulgar_ L.) and European goldenrod (_Solidago vrigaurea_ L.).