Comparison of Antioxidant Activities of Dendropanax morbifera Léveille Extracts According to Harvest Area.

Dendropanax morbifera Léveille is a medicinal plant native to East Asia with its diverse therapeutic potentials. In particular, the antioxidant effect of this plant is well known, but there has been little research on the antioxidant effect according to different habitats or ages. In this study, we evaluated the proximate composition, mineral, saponin, rutin, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activities of leaf extracts of D. morbifera plants cultivated from two different regions (New Zealand and Jeju Island, Korea) and of the same age (2-year-old plants). The assessment of proximate composition and total phenolic and flavonoid contents revealed significant variations in these parameters dependent on the cultivation region and age. The highest total phenol and total flavonoid contents were observed in D. morbifera from Jeju Island. In addition, the antioxidant activities of leaf extracts of D. morbifera from different cultivation regions and ages were assessed in terms of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)free radical scavenging, total antioxidant capacity, and superoxide dismutase activity. The extract of D. morbifera from Jeju Island showed the highest antioxidant activity among the samples tested. These findings clearly indicate that both the cultivation region and plant age affect the phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of D. morbifera. Therefore, extracts of D. morbifera obtained from optimal harvest regions and ages could serve as promising natural antioxidant candidates with potential health benefits.