The antioxidant properties of methanolic extracts from the fruit of Prunus mume after liquor manufacturing were evaluated. Methanol extract (0.5 g/50 ml) of P. mume were prepared and total phenol contents (TPC) and radical scavenging activity (RSA) of the extracts was determined for antioxidant activity. The TPC and RSA of extracts from P. mume were 63.83 mg/ml and 86.54%. In addition, the effect of P. mume extract on DNA damage induced by H₂O₂ in human lymphocytes was evaluated by Comet assay. The methanol extract of P. mume showed strong inhibitory effect against DNA damage induced by 200μM of H₂O₂. When human lymphocytes were post-incubated with P. mume extract for 30 min after exposure to H₂O₂, the protective ability of the P. mume was not changed. These results suggest that methanol extracts of P. mume showed significant protective effect against oxidative DNA damage. (Cancer Prev Res 10, 251-256, 2005)

Keywords: Prunus mume, Antioxidant, Total phenol contents, DPPH, Oxidative DNA damage