Phenolic contents and antioxidant activities from different tissues of Baekseohyang (Daphne kiusiana)

The aim of this research was to investigate the levels of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities in different tissues including leaves, stems, and roots from baekseohyang (Daphne kiusiana). The highest contents of total phenolics (43.59 mg gallic acid equivalent, GAE/g) and flavonoids (15.73 mg rutin equivalents, RE/g) were observed in the 75% methanol extract of leaves. Moreover, this extract had the predominant antioxidant capacity, DPPH (85.91%) and ABTS (92.57%) radical scavenging activities as well as reducing power (7.20%) at a concentration of 5 mg/mL. The highest content of phenolic compounds was also exhibited in this extract with an increasing order in leaves, roots, and stems and their major components were vanillic acid (6.37 mg/g), tannic acid (1.91 mg/g), and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (3.96 mg/g). Thus, the strong antioxidant activities of the 75% methanol extract are correlated with high phenolic compound contents. This study suggests that baekseohyang leaves may potentially be used as an accessible source of natural antioxidants.