Comparison of the antioxidant activities and the chemical compositions of the antioxidants of different polarity crude extracts from the fruits of Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai

The aim of this study was to compare the antioxidant activity of crude extracts of differing polarities of the fruits of Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai. The antioxidant compositions of the extracts were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, respectively. The 75% ethanol extract of the dried fruits was fractionated by sequential extraction using petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and n-butyl alcohol. The antioxidant effectiveness of the components of differing polarities was examined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging method and compared with two reference substances: ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The total phenolic content of the extracts was analyzed using the Folin–Ciocalteu method and expressed as gallic acid equivalents. The active compounds were analyzed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC)–bioautography and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The order of antioxidant capacities of various solvent extracts from the fruit of C. speciosa was f...