Antioxidant Activities of Chrysanthemum

Antioxidant Activities of Chrysanthemum
The antioxidant properties of flavonoids extracted from chrysanthemum could have been responsible for the broad pharmacological effects of chrysanthemum.

It was found that water extract showed significant antioxidant activities in the linoleic acid system in vitro.

The inhibitor rate against peroxidation of linoleic acid was much higher than that of antioxidant alpha-tocopherol.

In the liposome model system, the extract showed significant inhibitory activity against peroxidation of lecithin, suggesting that the extract may reduce lipid peroxidation and play a role in protecting against damage to the cell membrane.

The water extract of chrysanthemum also showed significant direct inhibitory effects on various free radicals.

Similar to other antioxidants chrysanthemum extract has been shown to be an electron donor with strong reducing power.

The significant correlation between phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity indicates that the polyphenolic directly to the antioxidant activity of the extract.

It was demonstrated that flavonoids, a subgroup of phenolic compounds, were responsible for the antioxidant activity of the chrysanthemum extract, which can scavenge reactive oxygen radicals such as hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals.

The flavonoids can also be absorbed into cell membrane and hence protect the cells from the damage of free oxygen radicals.

The overall observations seem to indicate that the chemical reducing property may contribute to the free radical scavenging activities of chrysanthemum extract.
Antioxidant Activities of Chrysanthemum