Effects of Heat Treatment and Extraction Method on Antioxidant Activity of Several Medicinal Plants

• DOI: 10.3746/jkfn.2012.41.7.914
• Publication Date: 2012-09-14T22:47:21Z
• Authors: Gwi-Yeong Jang; Hyun-Young Kim; Sang-Hoon Lee; Yu-Ri Kang; In-Guk Hwang; Koan-Sik Woo; Tae-Soo Kang; Jun-Soo Lee; Heon-Sang Jeong
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; 15. Life on land; 3. Good health

We investigated the effects of heat treatment and extraction method on the antioxidant activities of five medicinal plants: Cyperus rotundus, Eucommia ulmoides, Bupleurum falcatum, Achyranthes japonica Nakai, and Akebia quinata. Extraction was performed with only ultrasound, ultrasound after heating at for 2 hours, and reflux extraction with distilled water. The phenolic contents of reflux extraction and ultrasound extraction after heating were higher than only ultrasound extraction, and ultrasound extraction after heating samples was higher than reflux extraction except for Eucommia ulmoides and Cyperus rotundus. Total flavonoid content was higher in reflux and ultrasound extraction after heating samples than only ultrasound extraction, except for Cyperus rotundus. ABTS radical scavenging activity was higher in reflux extraction and ultrasound extraction after heating a sample, than only ultrasound extraction. DPPH radical scavenging activity was higher in reflux extraction except for Achyranthes japonica Nakai and Akebia quinata. The reducing power of ultrasound extraction after heating was higher with Achyranthes japonica Nakai. From the results of this study, we can expect to increase the antioxidant activity of medicinal plant extracts by applying suitable extraction and pretreatment conditions on the type of medicinal plant.