Antioxidant Activities of Water Extracts from Steamed Polygonati Rhizoma

Objectives : The objective of this study is to evaluate antioxidant activity of water extracts from steamed Polygonati Rhizoma(PR). Methods : The alcohol steamed PR from Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do and Samcheok-si Gangwon-do are treated for the research into the antioxidant activity of the water extract. The sample was divided into 4 groups that PR without steaming process, PR with once, second and third steaming process. The antioxidant activities of polyphenol, flavonoid, DPPH, SOD, hydroxyl radical and nitrite scavenging activity. Results : The total content of polyphenol was the grow rapidly when the number of steaming adds up. For the third time, both the steamed PR from Jinju-si and the one from Samcheok-si in the water extract indicate the highest content levels measured 50.59\;mg/m and 37.33\;mg/m respectively. The more the number of steaming increases, the more rising the content of flavonoid. The steamed PR from Jinju-si and Samcheok-si in the third time are measured 30.03\;mg/m and 54.9\;mg/m respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity of the steamed PR rises high rather than the non-steamed one when the number of steaming increases. As increase steaming time, SOD like activity and hydroxyl radical scavenging ability were increasing too. The steamed PR from Jinju-si in the third time is measured as the highest level 22.4%, 71.90% respectively. As increase steaming time, nitrite scavenging ability was the number was decreased. Conclusions : These results suggest that water extracts from steamed PR, exhibited higher antioxidant activities can be potentially used as proper natural antioxidants.