|
Antioxidant activities of
extracts from areca (Areca
catectu L.)
flower, husk and seed
Wei-Min Zhang, Bin Li, Lin Han and Hai-De
Zhang*
College
of Food Science, Hainan University, Hainan P. R. China.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
zhanghaide@163.com.
Tel.: +086-898-23300681.
Fax: +086-898-23305646.
Accepted
22 May, 2009 |
|
The antioxidant activities of areca (Areca
catectu L.)
flower, husk and seed extracts were evaluated using 3
complementary in vitro assays, inhibition of DPPH
(1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl) radicals, inhibition of
hydroxyl radicals and reducing power system. The EC50
values were calculated for all the methods in order to
evaluate the antioxidant efficiency of areca extracts. The
phenol and flavonoid contents were also analyzed. Areca seed
has the best antioxidant properties, presenting much lower
EC50 values for DPPH radicals scavenging
activity, hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity and reducing
power. Furthermore, the highest polyphenols and flavonoids
contents were found from areca seed extracts. It is
suggested that areca seed is an excellent food material with
a potential nutrition and antioxidation.
Key
words:
Areca catectu L. extracts, antioxidant activity. |
