Comparative radical scavenging and nitric oxide production capacity of water extracts of Acanthopanax divaricatus var, albeofructus and Eleutherococcus divaricatus var. chiisanensis

In the present study, water extracts of Acanthopanax divaricatus var, albeofructus and Eleutherococcus divaricatus var. chiisanensis were prepared and their antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects were compared. The water extract of Acanthopanax divaricatus var, albeofructus showed significantly higher activity in total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, while there were no significant differences in ABTS/DPPH radical scavenging activities and ferric reducing antioxidant power. However, the water extract of Eleutherococcus divaricatus var. chiisanensis at the highest dose showed significantly lower capacity in nitric oxide production than that of Acanthopanax divaricatus var, albeofructus. Taken together, there were differences between Acanthopanax divaricatus var, albeofructus and Eleutherococcus divaricatus var. chiisanensis in total polyphenol/flavonoid contents and anti-inflammatory effect, however, the antioxidant effect was almost similar.