Common thistle contains water-soluble substances that are antioxidative to foods. Antioxidant activities measured by DPPH method for the ground samples were the greatest in leaves, although was less than that of commonly used antioxidants, BHT and ascorbic acid. Methanol extracts and fractions from Xanthium occidentale plants dose-dependently increased DPPH free radical scavenging activity, in vitro test. The extracts from leaves showed the strongest antioxidant activity. DPPH scavenging activity of the individual fraction was in order of n-butanol>water>ethyl acetate>n-hexane fraction. By means of HPLC analysis, leaf samples of Xanthium occidentale had the highest amount of phenolic compounds, related with antioxidant activity, and followed by stems and roots. Total content of these antioxidant phenolic com­pounds for leaves extracts were detected in water fraction (36.7 mg 100 g-1 ) as the greatest amount, especially chlorogenic acid (39.4 mg 100 g-1 ) was the greatest component. These results suggest that Xanthium occidentale plants had potent antioxidant activity, and their activities were differently exhibited depending on plant part and fraction.

Compositae plants are known to contain biologically active substances that are allelopathic to agricultural crops as well as weed species. Aqueous or methanol extracts and plant residues from leaves of Xanthium occidentale were assayed against alfalfa (Medicago sativa) to determine its allelopathic effects, and the results showed that the extracts applied onto filter paper significantly inhibited seed germination as well as root growth of alfalfa. Aqueous leaf extracts of 40g L-1 were completely inhibitory on root growth of alfalfa, while root growths of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) were less sensitive. Leaf residue incorporation at 100g kg-1 into soil on seedling growth of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli Beauv. var. oryzicola Ohwi) inhibited both shoot and root fresh weights of barnyard grass by 94 and 96%, respectively. Methanol extracts from BuOn and EtOAc fractions of X. occidentale reduced alfalfa root growth more than did those from hexane and water fractions. The results based on bioassay of extracts and residues show that X. occidentale had potent an allelopathic activity against other plant species.

Compositae plants are known to contain biologically active substances that are allelopathic to agricultural crops as well as weed species. Aqueous extracts from leaves of Xanthium occidentale were assayed against alfalfa (Medicago sativa) to determine their allelopathic effects, and the result showed that the extracts applied onto filter paper significantly inhibited seed germination as well as root growth of alfalfa. Untreated seeds germinated in 60h, but extract concentrations greater than 30g ~textrmL-1 delayed seed germination. The extracts significantly inhibited seed germination of alfalfa, and β -amylase activity of alfalfa and barley seeds during 24-36 hours after treatment. Aqueous extracts of 40 g ~textrmL-1 from X. occidentale were completely inhibited the hypocotyl and root growth of alfalfa. Aqueous leaf extracts showed the highest inhibitory effect and followed by root and stem extracts. Early seedling growth of both alfalfa and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) was significantly reduced by methanol extracts. By means of high-performance liquid chromatography, chlorogenic acid and trans-cinnamic acid were quantified as the highest amounts from water and EtOAc fractions, respectively. BuOH and EtOAc fractions of X. occidentale reduced alfalfa root growth more than did hexane and water fractions. The findings of the bioassays for aqueous or methanol extracts reflected that the inhibitory effect of extract was closely related to the level of responsible allelochemicals found in plant extracts.