title: Evaluation of antioxidant activities of extracts from 19 Chinese edible flowers.
abstract: Extracts of 19 selected edible flowers were investigated for their free radical scavenging activity (FRSA), polyphenolic contents and flavonoid contents in the paper. The results showed the extracts of Paeonia suffruticosa Andr., Paeonia lactiflora Pall., and Rosa rugosa Thunb. possessed obviously stronger DPPH FRSA (94.221 ± 0.102; 93.739 ± 0.424 and 94.244 ± 0.163%, respectively), superoxide FRSA (55.818 ± 1.518; 52.142 ± 1.374 and 57.321 ± 0.608%, respectively), hydroxyl FRSA (85.872 ± 0.873; 89.307 ± 0.803 and 88.560 ± 0.277%, respectively) and polyphenolic contents (96.208 ± 0.689; 87.938 ± 1.187 and 92.164 ± 0.799 mg CE/g, respectively) that were superior or comparable to black and green teas. Polyphenolic contents did correlate well with DPPH FRSA (r = 0.943, P < 0.01), superoxide FRSA (r = 0.833, P < 0.01), and hydroxyl FRSA (r = 0.500, P < 0.05). It indicated that this potent FRSA may be attributed to its phenolic compounds. These findings showed that the tested flowers could be considered as new sources of safe natural antioxidants and preservatives of food industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Bio-engineering, Guangdong Light Industry Technical College, Guangzhou, 510300 Guangdong China.
authors.forename: Youwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Bio-engineering, Guangdong Light Industry Technical College, Guangzhou, 510300 Guangdong China ; Centre of Guangdong Higher Education of Engineering and Technological Development of Speciality Condiments, Guangdong Light Industry Technical College, Guangzhou, 510300 Guangdong China.
authors.forename: Maocheng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Huizhou University, Huizhou, 516007 Guangdong China.
authors.forename: Zhencheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Huizhou University, Huizhou, 516007 Guangdong China ; College of Life Science, Guangdong Key Lab of Biotechnology for Plant Development, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631 Guangdong China.
authors.forename: Yonghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
keywords: Edible flowers; Extracts; Flavonoid content; Free radical scavenging activity; Polyphenolic content