Antioxidant Activity of Roasted Defatted Perilla Seed

The antioxidant activity of roasted defatted perilla (Perilla frutescens) seed was determined by measuring its radical scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, inhibitory activity on total reactive oxygen species generation in kidney homogenates using 2',7'-dichlorodihydro-fluorescein diacetate, and scavenging effect on authentic peroxynitrites. The methanolic extract of roasted defatted perilla seed showed strong scavenging activity in both DPPH and peroxynitrite radicals, and thus fractionated with several solvents. The antioxidant activity potential of the individual fraction was in the order of ethyl acetate>n-butanol>dichloromethane>water>n-hexane fraction. The ethyl acetate soluble fraction exhibiting strong antioxidant activity was further purified by repeated silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Luteolin was isolated as one of the active principles from the ethyl acetate fraction, together with the inactive chrysoeriol and apigenin.