Antioxidative and Fibrinolytic Activities of Several Medicinal Plant Extracts

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidative and fib rinolytic activity of the water and ethanol extracts from medicinal plants. Methods : Five kinds of medicinal plants(Carthami Flos, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Schisandrae Fructus, Atractylodes Rhizoma, Shiitake mushiroom) were extracted with distilled wate r and 70% ethanol, and the extracts were tested for their antioxidative and fibrilytic activities.Results : The highest polyphenol contents of the water and ethanol extra cts from medicinal plants were 812.52 mg and 685.44 mg per 100 g of Carthamus tinctorius and Schizandra chinensis, respectively. The electron donating abilities (EDA) of the water extracts from all medicin al plants except Lentinus edodes were about 90% at 1,000 ppm and ethanol extracts were higher than those of water extracts. The highest SOD-like activity and nitrite scavenging abilities (NSA) were both of water and ethan ol extracts from Schizandra chinensis. Five kinds of medicinal plants had fibrinolytoc activity and the highest a ctivities were water and ethanol extracts from Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Conclusion : These results suggest that the medicinal plants can be used as natural antioxidant to prevent oxidative damage in normal cells probably because of their antioxidative and fibrinolytic activities. Key words : Carthami Flos, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Schisandrae Fructus, Atract ylodes Rhizoma, Shiitake mushiroom