Antioxidant Activity of Related Compounds Besides Polyphenols in Chinese Herbs

Other antioxidant is seldom known except polyphenols in herbs. In this study total alkaloids, polysaccharides, saponin in addition to polyphenols were extracted from 35 species of common Chinese herbs, their antioxidant capacities were evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging methods so as to find some special antioxidant compounds. All selected Chinese herbs extract showed antioxidant activities, most of them (33/35) were due to polyphenols, 14 herbs also had better antioxidant activity in other fractions besides polyphenol. Only the antioxidant activity of Root of Gentian a macrophylla mainly depended on the total alkaloids. Fruit of Terminalia chebula showed excellent antioxidant activity in total alkaloids, total polysaccharides and total saponins except polyphenols. Related constituents were discussed. Antioxidant fractions besides polyphenols in above herbs are worth being extracted and used as the good resource of antioxidant.