• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.643-649
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• 2013

In this study, we examined the antioxidative activities of ethanol extracts obtained from three plants; Lithospermum erythrorhizon Siebold & Zucc., Xanthium strumarium Linn, and Lonicera japonica, which have traditionally been used as drugs in Eastern medicine in Korea. Their extraction yields were 7.01%, 2.92%, and 7.95% in Lithospermum erythrorhizon Siebold & Zucc., Xanthium strumarium L, and Lonicera japonica, respectively. The contents of the phenolic compounds were $4.3{\pm}0.1{\mu}g/ml$, $5.4{\pm}0.1{\mu}g/ml$, and $4.6{\pm}0.1{\mu}g/ml$ in Lithospermum erythrorhizon Siebold & Zucc., and Xanthium strumarium L, respectively. Furthermore, the radical scavenging activity measured through the DPPH assay appeared highest in the Lonicera japonica's extract, and its $EC_{50}$ was 0.24 mg/ml. Compared to the control, the xanthine oxidase inhibiting activities of all extracts were effective at 0.01 mg/ml concentration. Superoxide radical scavenging activity in Lithospermum erythrorhizon Siebold & Zucc. and Lonicera japonica was more than 80%, with a concentration of 50 mg/ml. OH radical scavenging activity was 40% in the three plants, with a concentration of 50 mg/ml scavenging activity. From our results, we demonstrated that the ethanol extracts of three medicinal plants have antioxidant activities and could be potential candidates for natural antioxidants.