Seasonal Variation of Anti-oxidant and Anti-bacterial Activities in Acer palmatum Extract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the optimal collection time of Acer palmatum extract (APE) through anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial activities. Methods: We confirmed the anti-oxidant activity of APE by estimating the total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect, and cell viability. In addition, we determined anti-bacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa during growth. Results: Anti-oxidant activities of APE peaked in July and November. RAW 264.7 displayed high cell viability in APE concentrations of 5–100 μg/mL in July and November. As a result of conducting anti-bacterial activities, seasonal variation of APE against three bacteria was exhibited. Conclusion: The anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial activities of APE showed seasonal variation, and high cell viability in July and November; therefore, consideration of the optimal seasonal collection time for Acer palmatum could be an important factor attributing to its natural antioxidant properties and the optimal collection time was confirmed especially to be in July and November.