Antioxidant Effects of Ethanol Extracts from Flower Species of Compositae Plant

The present experiments were carried out to develop new antioxidants from EtOH extract of flower resources of Compositae plant concerning total polyphenol and flavonoid content, scavenging activities on DPPH and ABTS radicals, ferrous ion chelating effects, and inhibition activity on lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid. EtOH extracts from Matricaria recutica, Cosmos bipinnatus, Synurus deltoides, and Aster pilosus showed higher level of total polyphenol content, and the flavonoid content was the highest in C. bipinnatus. However, scavenging activity on DPPH radicals was the highest in EtOH extract of Hieracium pilosella-1.1 times higher than BHT control. The activity on ABTS radical scavenging was the highest in EtOH extracts of M. recutica and S. deltoides-2.0 and 1.2 times higher than ascorbic acid, and 2.2 and 1.3 times higher than BHT, respectively. Ferrous ion chelating effects was also the highest in M. recutica, but the level was much lower than EDTA. Inhibition activity on lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid, measured at every 4 days for 32 days, was superior and longer lasting with M. recutica and Achillea alpina, compared to that of BHT. In conclusion, antioxidant activity was different depending on species, so selection of proper plant species for the development of potential antioxidant is very important.