Evaluation of the antioxidant activities of natural components of Artemisia iwayomogi

The antioxidant activities of 29 components isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia iwayomogi were evaluated in vitro and in cell culture. Among the tested compounds, 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, and 14 exhibited the greatest peroxyl radical-scavenging activities in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, and 2, 10, and 14 also showed significant reducing capacities. However, all compounds showed weak metal chelating activities. Their cellular antioxidant activities were evaluated in HepG2 cells. At 10 μM, compounds 6, 8, and 14 exhibited stronger protection against 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidative stress than compounds 2, 10, and 13. Moreover, Compounds 2 and 8 were more effective in protecting against Cu²⁺-induced oxidative stress than compounds 6, 10, 13, and 14 at 10 μM. These results suggest that the phenolic compounds in A. iwayomogi have the potential to be developed as natural antioxidants for the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases.