ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF MUME FRUCTUS EXTRACT

We have evaluated the antioxidant and radical scavenging activity of the water extract of Mume Fructus by applying various in vitro assays. We have determined total phenolic and flavonoid contents, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2 '-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), hydroxyl radical (OH), superoxide radical (O2-) and nitrite scavenging activities, inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation and reducing power activity. The extract exhibited high scavenging activities on DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl and superoxide radicals with the IC50 of 0.40, 0.36, 1.75 and 1.60 mg/mL, respectively. The extract also showed nitrite scavenging and reducing power activity in a dose-dependent manner. It inhibited 69.42% of linoleic acid oxidation at the concentration of 0.4 mg/mL. Owing to have high antioxidant activity, the water extract of Mume Fructus may serve as a new dietary supplement.