Abstract: The antioxidant effect of crude total flavonoid extract from Zanthoxylum bungeanum seeds obtained by extraction with 60% ethanol aqueous solution and its purified counterpart obtained by adsorption on type AB-8 macroporous resin was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging, total reducing power, total antioxidant capacity and anti-lipoperoxidation assays. The results showed that purified total flavonoids from Zanthoxylum bungeanum seeds had stronger antioxidant effect than BHT at the same concentrations. Crude and purified total flavonoids from Zanthoxylum bungeanum seeds indicated a noticeable increase with increasing concentration and a positive correlation between their total antioxidant activity and concentration. Crude and purified total flavonoids from Zanthoxylum bungeanum seeds could inhibit lecithin phospholipid liposome peroxidation induced by Fe2+ in a concentration-dependent fashion. In addition, crude total flavonoid extract from Zanthoxylum bungeanum seeds showed higher antioxidant effect than its purified counterpart.

Key words: Zanthoxylum bungeanum, flavonoids, antioxidant activity