Comparison of the Antioxidative and Antimicrobial Activity of different Varieties and Parts of Dandelions

민들레의 품종과 부위별 항산화 및 항균 활성 비교

Many studies have presented results about the antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of Dandelions(Taraxacum officinale). There has yet to be a study which makes comparisons based on the variety or parts of the Dandelion. To compare the physiological activity, antioxidative and antimicrobial activities were measured by using methanol extracts of Korean and Western Dandelions. The Dandelions were taken from Uiryeong in Kyungnam province, and antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of the flower, leaf and root were measured. Antioxidative activities of the methanol extracts were examined with a DPPH test. Antimicrobial activities were examined against 5 microorganisms. Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus served as G(+) microorganisms, while Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Eschrichia coli served as G(-) microorganisms. There was no significant difference in the antioxidative activity of the methanol extracts from leaves and roots between varieties. The antioxidative activity of the flower extracts was higher in the Korean than in the Western samples but the highest level of antioxidant was lower than 70%. No significant difference in antimicrobial activities between the varieties was observed. More research using physiological factors other than antioxidative and antimicrobial activities is needed to identify physiological functions and enhance the utilization of Dandelions.