Abstract: Functional components including flavonoids, polysaccharides and polyphenols were isolated from Dicliptera chinensis, and their antioxidant activities were evaluated. The results indicated that Dicliptera chinensis was rich in flavonoids, polysaccharides and polyphenols, of which the contents were 2.4, 180.5 mg/g and 61.2 mg/g of dry Dicliptera chinensis (md), respectively. Moreover, flavonoids, polysaccharides and polyphenols from Dicliptera chinensis had strong free radical scavenging capacity, with respective scavenging rates of 76.7%, 88.2% and 35.8% against DPPH free radicals and of 90.8%, 95.7% and 80.9% against hydroxyl free radicals.

Key words: Dicliptera chinensis, flavonoids, polysaccharides, polyphenols, antioxidant activity