Free radical scavenging and total phenolic contents from methanolic extracts of Ulmus davidiana

A methanolic (MeOH) extract of Ulmus davidiana was analyzed for antioxidant activity using model systems, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical (OH) scavenging, reducing power, and total phenolic content. The MeOH extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity in the tested model systems. Among fractions using several solvents, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc)-soluble fraction, which exhibited strong antioxidant activity, was further purified by silica–gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. The (−)-Catechin (1) and (−)-catechin-7-O-β-d-apiofuranoside (2) were isolated as the active principles. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited strong antioxidant activity on DPPH radicals, with IC50 values of 6.37 ± 0.02 μM and 6.41 ± 0.03 μM, respectively, and strong activity on OH radicals at 10 μg/ml, with 53.65 ± 0.01% and 52.56 ± 0.01% inhibition. U. davidiana extracts may be exploited as biopreservatives in food applications as well as for health supplements of functional food, to alleviate oxidative stress.