LC–MS/MS characterization, anti‐inflammatory effects and antioxidant activities of polyphenols from different tissues of Korean Petasites japonicus (Meowi)

The Korean Petasites japonicus is a perennial plant used in folk medicine as a remedy for many diseases and popularly consumed as spring greens. Ten polyphenols were characterized from the leaves, stems and roots of this plant via high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Individual polyphenols were quantified for the first time using calibration curves of six structurally related external standards. Validation data indicated that coefficients of determinations ( R 2 ) were ≥0.9702 for all standards. Recoveries measured at 50 and 100 mg/L were 80.0–91.9 and 80.3–105.3%, respectively. Precisions at these two concentration levels were 0.7–6.1 and 1.1–5.5%, respectively. The total number of identified components was largest for the leaves and smallest for the stems. The leaf and root polyphenolic extracts showed anti‐inflammatory effects by inducing LPS‐activated COX‐2 and iNOS protein levels in mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The antioxidant capacity of the polyphenols, when evaluated for DPPH ( α , α ‐diphenyl‐ β ‐picrylhydrazyl) ˑ , ABTS + [2–2′‐azino‐ bis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid)] and superoxide radical scavenging activities, and in ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assays, was highest in the leaf and lowest in the stem. This trend suggests that the antioxidant capacities depend primarily on polyphenol concentration in each tissue. The current findings suggest that polyphenols derived from P. japonica s tissues could have potential as functional health foods.