Antioxidant Activities of Yinchenhao (Artemisiae Capillaris) Leaves

Yinchenhao (Artemisia capillaris Thunb.) is a pharmaceutical agent that not only shows therapeutic effects against hepatobiliary diseases but also offers various physiological benefits. This study examined the extraction rates of antioxidant extracts from Yinchenhao leaves using different solvents. The extraction rates using different solvents were as follows: ethanol (12.1 ± 0.87%) > water (7.7 ± 0.45%) > n-butanol (1.3 ± 0.16%) ethyl acetate > (1.3 ± 0.14%) > n-hexane (1.1 ± 0.15%). The n-butanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed higher 1,1-Diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl radical free radical scavenging activity, 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) free radical scavenging activity and ferric ion reducing antioxidant activity, while n-hexane extracts showed weak antioxidant activity. In conclusion, Yinchenhao leaf has potential as a natural antioxidant, and n-butanol and ethyl acetate may be effective extraction solvents for studying its antioxidant activities.