ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF MUME FRUCTUS EXTRACT

Abstract

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. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Mume Fructus has been used as a medicine in China, Korea and Japan. It has been reported that the water extract of Mume Fructus is able to inhibit pro‐inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated macrophages. The fruit has been used for stomachic, alexipharmic expectorant and eye pain and skin disease since before. People also used fruits as folk medicine for fever, cough and intestinal disorder, etc. Dried fruits have been used for thirst, refrigerant, laxative. In addition, previous reporters showed the inhibitory activities of fruit juice against Helicobacter pylori motility, human influenza disease as well as proliferation of cancer cells. In this context, we studied antioxidant and free radical‐scavenging activities of Mume Fructus in vitro. The results of this study suggest that it may have potential as new source of natural antioxidant and dietary supplement.