• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.1628-1632
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• 2007

The present study describes the preliminary evaluation of antioxidant activities and antigenotoxic effect of Rhododendron mucromulatum Turcz. flowers (RMF). The samples were prepared by extracting RMF with four different solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone, and water), and antioxidant properties were evaluated by determining total phenolic contents (TPC), DPPH radical scavenging activity (RSA), and reducing power (RP). Water extract showed the highest total phenol content (328.1 mg/g gallic acid equivalents). Acetone extract showed the most potent RSA and RP. The $IC_{50}$ for RSA and RP in the acetone extract were 78 mg/mL and 454 mg/mL, respectively. The 200 mM $H_2O_2$ induced DNA damage, measured by Comet assay, was inhibited with water, methanol and acetone extract in dose dependent manner in human leukocytes. The inhibition rates were 42, 62, and 52% at the concentrations of 50 mg/mL of water, methanol and acetone extracts, respectively. These results suggest that R. mucromulatum Turcz. has significant antioxidative activity and protective effect against oxidative DNA damage.