Phytotoxic Effect, DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity and Chlorogenic Acid Level of Methanol Extracts from Aerial Parts of Several Korean Salad Plants

A series of aqueous or methanol extracts from four different Korean salad plants were assayed to determine their allelopathy and antioxidant activity. The extracts applied on filter paper in a Petri-dish bioassay significantly inhibited root growth of against alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seedlings. Leaf extracts from 40 g dry tissue $L^{-1}$ of Aster yomena was most phytotoxic to alfalfa root growth, and followed by that of Cirsium japonicum, Taraxacum officinale, and Ixeris dentate. Methanol extracts of plants dose-dependently increased DPPH free radical scavenging activity in vitro. Antioxidant activity of methanol extracts from the same plant species was investigated, and the result showed high DPPH free radical scavenging activity in Cirsium japonicum, Aster yomena, and Ixeris dentate, however, in Taraxacum officinale was least activity. By means of HPLC analysis, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, and total phenolics with 7.68, 17.47 and 18.64 mg, $100g^{-1}$, respectively, showed the highest amounts in methanol extracts from Cirsium japonicum leaves. These results suggest that Compositae salad plants contain water-soluble substances with allelopathic potential as well as antioxidant activity.