title: Antioxidant flavonoid glycosides from the leaves of Ficus pumila L.
abstract: The Okinawan folks in Japan use Ficus pumila L. as a beverage or herbal medicine to treat diabetes and high blood pressure. Four flavonoid glycosides were isolated and identified as rutin (1 and 3), apigenin 6-neohesperidose (2), kaempferol 3-robinobioside (4) and kaempferol 3-rutinoside (5). Among these compounds, rutin exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging assay and superoxide radical inhibition assay. The preparation of Ooitabi leaves in water provide sufficient amount of flavonoid glycosides to the Okinawan although 50% of aqueous ethanol extracted these flavonoid glycosides more effectively. These results show the potential of Ooitabi leaves as a natural source of antioxidant for health management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Applied Biosciences, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
authors.forename: Cheng Ning Abraham
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
authors.forename: Masakuni
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tako
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Korimoto 1-21-24, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hanashiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan. Electronic address: tamaki34@agr.u-ryukyu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamaki
keywords: Antioxidant; Ficus pumila L.; Flavonoid glycosides