Antioxidative and Antimicrobial Qualities of Different Pare of the Dandelion Plant (Taraxacum officinale) from Different Habitats

민들레의 서식지와 부위별 항산화 및 항균 활성 연구

To classify the physiological activity by habitat and part of Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), antioxidative and antimicrobial activities were investigated from methanol extracts of Dandelion. Dandelion was taken from Uiryeong (in Kyungnam province) and from Seoul, and antioxidative and antimicrobial activities were measured for three different parts of the dandelion: the flower, leaf and root. Antioxidative activities of methanol extracts from Dandelion were examined by a DPPH test, and antimicrobial activities were examined against 5 microorganisms: Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus as G(+) microorganisms, and Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Eschrichia coli as G(-) microorganisms. No significant differences were found in terms of antioxidative and antimicrobial activities between the dandelions in Uiryeong and the dandelions in Seoul. Antioxidative activity, however, was higher in the flower of the dandelion, irrespective of habitat. Further research with other physiological factors (besides antioxidative and antimicrobial activities) is necessary to shed light on dandelion physiological function and to enhance the utilization of dandelion.