Antioxidant activity, total phenolics level and cytotoxicity of the methanol extracts from the young sprouts of 5 Korean woody salad plants were determined. Methanol extracts of Kalopanax pictus had the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, with an IC50 value of 23.5mg 100g-1, and followed by Valeriana fauriei(43.1mg 100g-1), and Morus alba(〉100mg 100g-1). Total phenolic content showed the highest amount in methanol extracts from Kalopanax pictus(23.7mg 100g-1), and followed by Valeriana fauriei(22.7mg 100g-1), Aralia elata(16.8mg 100g-1) and Morus alba(14.2mg 100g-1). In a MTT assay, methanol extracts of Aralia elata with IC50 values of 151.0 and 140.7μg mL-1 showed the most potent cytotoxicity on Calu-6 and MCF-7, respectively. On the other hand, methanol extracts of Kalopanax pictus(IC50=96.5μg mL-1) showed the highest activity against HCT-116, and followed by those of Aralia elata(123.3μg mL-1), and Actinidia arguta(162.0μg mL-1). Total phenolic content of the tested plant extracts was correlated with the DPPH radical scavenging activity, suggesting the phenolic compounds may contribute to the antioxidant properties of Korean salad plants.

• Sang-Uk Chon
• Chan-Young Ahn
• Sook-Young Lee