Evaluation of Potential Antioxidative Activities of Jiangcan (Bombyx batryticatus) Extracts

Jiangcan, Bombyx batryticatus, was extracted by five solvents with increasing polarity, named chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol and deionized water to investigate the potential antioxidant activities. Four in vitro assays were employed, including scavenging activity on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, the reducing power, the chelating ability on ferrous ions and inhibiting ability in linoleic acid peroxidation. In addition, total phenolic contents of each extract were also assessed. Results indicated that the methanol extract of Jiangcan possesses the most effective antioxidant abilities. Ethyl acetate extract exhibited good antioxidant activities except ferrous ions chelating ability whereas the chloroform extract showed the weakest reactive. The methanol extract contained the highest content of total phenolic compared to that of the other four extracts suggesting the likely possibility that the observed antioxidant activities were partly due to the phenolics. These results suggested that Jiangcan had potent antioxidative abilities in the prevention of oxidative damage.