Correlation of antioxidant activity and major isoflavonoid contents of the phytoestrogen-rich Pueraria mirifica and Pueraria lobata tubers

The antioxidant activity of wild Pueraria mirifica collected from 28 of the 76 provinces of Thailand and Pueraria lobata collected from China were assessed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. P. mirifica tuberous extracts showed weak antioxidant activity in comparison with α-tocopherol. Six plant samples exhibited stronger antioxidant activity than the mean value of the P. mirifica population. In addition, the mean value of the P. mirifica population indicated significantly lower antioxidant activity than P. lobata. The analysis of the antioxidant activity of isoflavonoids revealed that puerarin and daidzein exhibited the same level of antioxidant activity as α-tocopherol. The results showed convincingly that puerarin and daidzein in the plant tubers may play an important role in antioxidant activity. The correlation analysis between antioxidant activity and major isoflavonoid contents of plant tubers indicated a significant correlation only with puerarin and a significant lack of correlation with daidzin, daidzein and genistein.