Physiological and Functional Properties of Salicornia herbacea (Tungtungmadi) Leaf Extracts

Abstract

The physiologically relevant functional properties of various solvent extracts from Salicornia herbacea leaves were investigated by measuring lipid peroxidation, DPPH radical scavenging, nitrite scavenging, and xanthine oxidase inhibition. Ethyl ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions obtained from the 80% aqueous ethanol extracts of Salicornia herbacea leaves showed strong antioxidative activities in linoleic acid methyl esters. Peroxide values (POV) were not significantly different among the samples treated with the different fractions; the incubation time required to reach a peroxide value of 80 meq/kg was about 40 hrs. However, control linoleic acid methyl esters had POV of more than 480 meq/kg after 40 hrs. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the ethyl acetate fraction was much more effective than diethyl ether, n-butanol, chloroform and water fractions, with an IC_(50) of 279 μg/mL, but less effective than ascorbic acid (IC_(50) = 67 μg/mL). The nitrite scavenging activities of all fractions increased as pH decreased. Among the fractions, nitrite scavenging activities of diethyl ether and ethyl acetate fractions at pH 1.2 were highest at 59.0 and 56.2%, respectively. The diethyl ether fraction obtained from the 80% aqueous ethanol extract of Salicornia herbacea leaves was the most effective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase of all the solvent extracts at 84% inhibition for a 1 mg/mL concentration. These results suggest that Salicornia herbacea leaf extracts may be effective antioxidants, not only in food stability, but also in human health.