Free radical scavenging capability, antioxidant activity and chemical constituents of Pyrola incarnata Fisch. leaves

Abstract In the present study, the crude extract and its four fractions of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, water from Pyrola incarnata Fisch. leaves were prepared and their antioxidant activities were investigated by using four antioxidant assays in vitro. The ethyl acetate fraction showed remarkably strong antioxidant activities on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, reducing power and β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching, which were almost comparable to capacities of the positive controls (VC and BHT). The ethyl acetate fraction had the highest total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. Furthermore, Pearson correlation analysis was …