In vitro Antioxidant Effect of Aster scaber Thunb. Extract

Methanol extract and solvent fractions of Aster scaber Thunb. were tested to elucidate antioxidative characteristics in vitro. Methanol extract showed strong inhibition on linoleic acid autoxidation and conjugated diene production. Hexane and diethyl ether fractions showed stronger chelating effect on $10^{-4}M\;FeCl_3$ than the other fractions. Butanol fraction had the strongest capacity on $10^{-3}M\;CuSO_4$ similar to ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. Synergistic effect of butanol fraction with histidine, methionine, and lysine on linoleic acid autoxidation had been observed. Contents of total phenol, vitamin E, vitamin C, and carotenoid were evaluated. From the results, Aster scaber Thunb. could be expected to play a role as an antioxidant in vivo.