This study was carried out to investigate the antioxidant activities and the contents of antioxidant compounds in extracts derived from 23 medicinal crops. Dried plant materials were extracted by 80% methanol and the extracts were used to experiment. The levels of total phenolic compounds were much higher in Oenothera biennis, Houttuynia cordata, Cedrela sinensis, Rhus javanica, Artemisia annua, Reynoutria sachalinensis, and Dendropanax morbifera compared with other crops. On the other hand, the total phenolic compound levels in Carthamus tinctorius, Polygonum multiflorus, Ginko biloba, Solanum nigrum, and Saposhnikovia divaricata were relatively low. The total flavonoid contents were highest in H. cordata, followed by D. morbifera, A. annua, A. continentalis and O. biennis. DPPH activity was significantly higher in A. annua, R. javanica, C. sinensis, D. morbifera and O. biennis, and ABTS activity was significantly higher in R. javanica, C. sinensis, O. biennis, R. sachalinensis, A. annua, and D. morbifera than other plants. These results suggest that O. biennis, A. annua, R. javanica, D. morbifera, and R. sachalinensis can be utilized as food additives and natural antioxidants due to their strong antioxidant activity.

• 문경곤(경상대학교 농학과) | Kyong-gon Moon (Department of Agronomy, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Korea)
• 김상언(경상대학교 농학과) | Sang-Un Kim (Department of Agronomy, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Korea)
• 엄인석(경상대학교 농학과) | In-Seok Um (Department of Agronomy, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Korea)
• 배영덕(경상대학교 농학과) | Yeong deok Bae (Department of Agronomy, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Korea)
• 노일래(경상대학교 부속 농업생명과학연구원) | Il-Rae Rho (Institute of Agriculture & Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Korea) Corresponding author