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ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF MAJOR FLAVONOIDS AND SUBFRACTIONS OF THE EXTRACT OF PHYLLOSTACHYS PUBESCENS LEAVES
Author(s) -
GUO XUEFENG,
YUE YONGDE,
TANG FENG,
WANG JIN,
YAO XI
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of food biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.507
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1745-4514
pISSN - 0145-8884
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-4514.2012.00655.x
Subject(s) - phyllostachys , antioxidant , traditional medicine , chemistry , polyphenol , food science , botany , biology , bamboo , biochemistry , medicine
Six subfractions (H 2 O eluted fraction, 20% ethanol eluted fraction, 40% ethanol eluted fraction, 60% ethanol eluted fraction, 80% ethanol eluted fraction and acetone fraction) of a 95% ethanol extract of Phyllostachys pubescens leaves were sequentially partitioned by column chromatography (macroporous absorption resin). For the first time, nine specific major flavonoids were isolated from this species. The antioxidant activity levels of these nine major flavonoids and six subfractions were evaluated using a radical‐scavenging assay, including 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl, hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anion radicals. The total flavonoid content of the six subfractions was determined by colorimetry. Results indicated that the nine major flavonoids and three of the subfractions (20, 40,and 60% ethanol) exhibited powerful antioxidant activity. These three subfractions showed high levels of total flavonoid content. Our results suggest that the nine major flavonoids and three subfractions are promising natural alternatives to synthetic antioxidants as functional food ingredients and natural antioxidant. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Chinese people realized the medical and health‐promoting effects of bamboo leaves a long time ago. Bamboo and its extracts are used in traditional Chinese medicine and as food additives. Phyllostachys pubescens is a species of bamboo that is widely cultivated in China, primarily for its shoots. Every year, many bamboo leaves are discarded when the shoots are harvested. In this study, major flavonoids and three subfractions made from P. pubescens leaves showed strong antioxidant activity. This capacity was found to be mainly the result of the extracts' high total flavonoid content. These flavonoids and subfractions could be developed into ingredients for use in foods and as natural antioxidant.