Radical scavenging activity of ethanol extract and solvent partitioned fractions of lotus seeds

This study focused on the evaluation of the antioxidative effects of lotus seeds from golden colored flowers. The lotus seeds were extracted with ethanol and then fractionated into 4 fractions, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol, methylene chloride, and n-hexane. The comparison of antioxidative activities of the extract and fractions from the lotus seeds was carried out using an in vitro radical scavenging model and the total phenol content was analyzed. Of the tested extracts and fractions, the EtOAc fraction of the lotus seeds showed the strongest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity with 96.24% at a concentration of 100 ㎍/mL. In addition, the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of the lotus seed EtOAc fraction was also increased in a concentration dependent manner with the concentrations tested ranging from 5 to 100 ㎍/mL. Moreover, the EtOAc fraction showed the highest scavenging activity for nitric oxide and superoxide anion radicals. In particular, of all the extracts and fractions, the EtOAc fraction showed highest contents of total phenols. These results indicate that lotus seeds have potential as an antioxidative agent against oxidative stress involving reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, the EtOAc fraction of lotus seeds includes promising oxidative stress-protective compounds.