Abstract

Areca is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant used to treat a variety of diseases. The antioxidant capacities of areca flower extracts were evaluated by using superoxide radical scavenging activity and reducing power, total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were also detected. In all the tested models, the areca flower extracts showed their ability to scavenge superoxide radical and reducing power in a does-dependent manner. The distilled water (AFW) extract had higher superoxide radical scavenging activity and reducing power than of distilled water/methanol (AFM) extract. These results indicated that areca flower extracts might be used as a potential source of natural antioxidant agent.

Key words: Areca catechu, flower, antioxidant activity, superoxide radical scavenging, reducing power.