Abstract:

Polysaccharides as the major components in Salicornia were extracted using different solvents such as water and ethanol. The antioxidant activities of water extract and ethanol extract from Salicornia, crude Salicornia polysaccharides and purified Salicornia polysaccharides were evaluated by ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, hydroxyl (·OH) free radical scavenging capacity assay and superoxide anion (O2·) free radical scavenging capacity assay. Results indicated that water extract, ethanol extract and polysaccharides from Salicornia all had strong scavenging capacity for hydroxyl free radicals, which was weaker than that of VC. The reducing power and ·OH scavenging capacity of water extract were stronger than those of ethanol extract at the same concentration. Likewise, crude polysaccharides exhibited stronger reducing power and ·OH scavenging capacity than purified polysaccharides. Although water extract and polysaccharides did not exhibit scavenging capacity for superoxide anion free radicals at the experimental concentration range, ethanoll extract revealed certain scavenging capacity for superoxide anion free radicals.

Key words: Salicornia, extract, antioxidant, free radical scavenging capacity