Protective effect of areca inflorescence extract on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage to human serum albumin

The protective effect of 3 areca inflorescence extracts (boiling water extract, ambient temperature water extract and ethanol extract) on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage to human serum albumin was investigated by comparing with Trolox, the water soluble vitamin E. Protein carbonyl groups, protein hydroperoxides,1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and total phenolic content were examined. The results showed that boiling water extract had the most protective effect on human serum albumin damage induced by hydrogen peroxide, comparable to Trolox, followed by the room ambient temperature water extract and ethanol extract. The total phenolic content of boiling water extract, ambient temperature water extract, and ethanol extract was 1.949±0.003, 1.842±0.001 and 0.983±0.011mg gallic acid equivalent/ml extract, respectively, and six phenolic compositions such as gallic acid, coumalic acid, epicatechin, fumalic acid, naringenin and rutin have been found in these areca inflorescence extracts. These data suggest that areca inflorescence is a new source of natural antioxidants.