Hovenia dulcis Thunb fruits were successively extracted with hot water, water, methanol, ethyl acetate, and chloroform. The crude extracts were investigated for potential antioxidant by measuring scavenging against DPPH free radicals, reducing power, superoxide radicals, and protection of protein damage and cultured cells from a lethal dose of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In all chemical assays used, the hot water extract of H. dulcis fruits, which contained 61.14±2.57 (Tannic acid mg/g extract, n=3) of total phenolic compounds contents exhibited highest activity in in vitro models of DPPH free radical scavenging activity, reducing power assay, superoxide radical scavenging activity and protection of protein damage. In addition, the hot water extract protected cultured RAW 264.7 macrophages from a lethal dose of H2O2 and reduced reactive oxygen species level in RAW 264.7 cells.

• Weicheng Hu
• Kab-Yeon Lee
• Myeong-Hyeon Wang