Protective effects of Cornus walteri W. extracts on t-BHP-induced cell damage through antioxidant activity

This study evaluated the antioxidant potential of extracts from Cornus walteri W. (CW) using various assays for natural antioxidants. We determined the polyphenol and flavonoid contents, as well as the antioxidant properties of water and ethanol extracts from the CW compared with those of other natural and synthetic antioxidants. CW extracts had high total phenolic and flavonoid contents in both the water and ethanol extracts. Various radical (DPPH, hydroxyl, and alkyl) scavenging activities of extracts from CW were higher than that of vitamin C. In addition, the antioxidant capacity measured as ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging were higher than that of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT), used as a positive control. The cytoprotective effect of CW extracts was also observed in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative damage in Chang cells. These results showed that CW extracts have antioxidant properties through their ability to enhance cell viability, prevent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and inhibit mitochondrial membrane depolarization. The antioxidant potency of the CW extracts could be exploited for their health promoting potential.