Antioxidant activity and analysis of proanthocyanidins from pine (Pinus densiflora) needles

• Published in: Nutrition research and practice Vol. 5; no. 4; pp. 281 - 287
• Main Authors: Park, Y.S., Silla University, Busan, Republic of Korea, Jeon, M.H., Silla University, Busan, Republic of Korea, Hwang, H.J., Silla University, Busan, Republic of Korea, Park, M.R., Silla University, Busan, Republic of Korea, Lee, S.H., Silla University, Busan, Republic of Korea, Kim, S.G., Bioport Korea Co., Marine Bio-industry Development Center, Busan, Republic of Korea, Kim, M.H., Silla University, Busan, Republic of Korea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 한국영양학회 01.08.2011; The Korean Nutrition Society and the Korean Society of Community Nutrition
• Subjects: DPPH; FLAVONOIDE; FLAVONOIDES; FLAVONOIDS; HPLC analysis; Original Research; pine needle; ROS; 생활과학; pine needle; DPPH; HPLC analysis; proanthocyanidin; ROS
• ISSN: 1976-1457; 2005-6168; 2005-6168
• DOI: 10.4162/nrp.2011.5.4.281

In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant activity of pine needle extracts prepared with hot water, ethanol, hexane, hot water-hexane (HWH), and hot water-ethanol (HWE), using the DPPH (1,1-dipheny1-2-picrythydrazyl) radical method. The hot water extract possessed superior antioxidant activity than the other extracts. We also compared the antioxidant activity of pine needle extracts through ROS inhibition activity in a cellular system using MC3T3 E-1 cells. The hot water extract exhibited the lowest ROS production. The pattern of HPLC analysis of each extract indicated that the hot water extract contained the highest proanthocyanidin level. The pine needle hot-water extract was then isolated and fractionated with Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography to determine the major contributor to its antioxidant activity. The No.7 and 12 fractions had high antioxidant activities, that is, the highest contents of proanthocyanidins and catechins, respectively. These results indicate that the antioxidant activity of procyanidins from the hot water extract of pine needles is positively related to not only polymeric proanthocyanidins but also to monomeric catechins. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of the pine needle hot water extract was similar to well-known antioxidants, such as vitamin C. This suggests that pine needle proanthocyanidins and catechins might be of interest for use as alternative antioxidants.