Antioxidant Activity of Apium graveolens Extracts

Abstract The methanol and acetone extracts prepared from Apium graveolens were tested to determine their antioxidant activities by using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), the iron chelation activity, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging activity and the superoxide radical scavenging activity. The contents of total phenolic compounds in the two extracts were measured using a Folin-Ciocalteu assay. As a result, methanol showed the best antioxidant effect in comparison with acetone extract. Superoxide scavenging activity in A. graveolens rose above 80% at 1000 mg/ml for both acetone and methanol extracts. The FRAP was more important with methanol extract (65%) compared with that of acetone extract (40%). The dosage of the polyphenolic components showed that phenol acids, tannins and flavonoids concentrations were higher in methanol extract than in acetone extract.