Abstract:

Total saponins, flavonoids and polysaccharides in litchi seed extract (LSE) of different cultivars were determined using vanillin-perchloric acid method, aluminum nitrate-sodium nitrite method and anthrone-sulfuric acid method, respectively, with their contents varying 1.30% － 1.40%, 5.78% － 6.80%, 2.85% － 3.34%, respectively. Superoxide anion radical, hydroxyl radical and DPPH free radical scavenging abilities of LSE were evaluated and compared with that of rutin. Result show that superoxide anion scavenging rate was up to 92.96% (LSE concentraction 0.8mg/ml), higher than that of rutin of the same concentration, and hydroxyl radical scavenging rate was 85.56% (LSE concentraction 0.5mg/ml), and DPPH free radical scavenging rate was 52.56% (LSE concentration 0.5mg/ml). LSE inhibited lipid peroxidation with the inhibition rate up to 52.56% (LSE concentration 0.5mg/ml).

Key words: litchi seeds, extracts, active components, antioxidant capacity