Abstract
The efficiencies of two traditional extraction methods used in Chinese medicine (the decoction method and the maceration method) were evaluated for the extraction of antioxidants from medicinal plants. A group of medicinal plants possessing nutritious and tonic functions were chosen as model plants. A commonly used extraction method was used as a reference method. The antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents of the extracts were measured by ferric-reducing antioxidant power and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays as well as the Folin–Ciocalteu method, respectively. The results obtained indicated that the two traditional extraction methods could effectively extract antioxidants from medicinal plants. These extraction methods can be applied to the analysis and purification of antioxidants in plants, respectively. At home, people can use these methods to extract antioxidants from plants for consumption. In the food industry, these methods could be utilized to prepare crude extracts from plants containing antioxidants for use as food additives.
Relation and comparison of extraction efficiencies of two traditional extraction methods with the reference method
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the CRCG (The University of Hong Kong Committee on Research and Conference Grants), the Outstanding Young Researcher Award of the University of Hong Kong, and RGC (the Hong Kong Research Grants Council).
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Li, HB., Jiang, Y., Wong, CC. et al. Evaluation of two methods for the extraction of antioxidants from medicinal plants. Anal Bioanal Chem 388, 483–488 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-007-1235-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-007-1235-x