Antioxidant Activities and Phenolic Content of Juniperus excelsa Extract

Abstract

Butyl-hydroxytoluene (BHT) is one of the major synthetic antioxidants with a wide range usage. Replacement of artificial antioxidants with natural antioxidants is highly considered. In this research, the antioxidant activity of <em>Juniperus excelsa</em> was investigated by using reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Also, the amounts of phenolic and flavonoid compounds were determined. Ethanol extract of <em>Juniperus excelsa</em> was fractionated based on increasing the polarity. The reducing power of ethyl acetate fraction was more than butanol fraction. The IC₅₀ of ethyl acetate fraction (204.3±12.8 µg/ml) was less than that of butanolic (>400 µg/ml) fraction (<em>p</em>pJuniperus excelsa, especially ethyl acetate, had more antioxidant activity.