Antioxidant Compounds and Antioxidant Activities of the Methanolic Extracts from Lespedeza cuneata G. Don

Lespedeza cuneata G. Don is a member of the Pea or Fabaceae family. This invasive plant has spread throughout the eastern Asia. L. cuneata is used as a medicinal herb to treat ailments such as skin ulcerations, dysentery, enteritis, and hernias (1). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activities of the methanolic extracts and solvent fractions from L. cuneata. To determine the antioxidant compounds in the methanolic extract and solvent fractions, the content of total polyphenol, flavonoid and tannin were measured by spectrophotometric methods. These were evaluated for antioxidative activities by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. The yield of methanolic extracts, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water fractions of L. cuneata were 19.52, 3.85, 21.00, 6.73, 7.31 and 61.11%, respectively. The total polyphenol, flavonoids and tannin contents of methanolic extracts on the L. cuneata were 12.44, 2.94 and 8.75mg/g extract residue, respectively. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of the methanolic extracts on the L. cuneata were 206.15 and 338.64mg Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity per g extract residue, respectively. The results of this study show that notable antioxidant activities in L. cuneata G. Don are considered to have significant health benefits.

Keywords: Lespedeza cuneata G. Don, polyphenol, flavonoid, antioxidant activity

References: 1. Altom JV et al. (1992) Weed Technology Journal of the Weed Science Society of America 6: 573.