Isolation of luteolin 7-O-rutinoside and esculetin with potential antioxidant activity from the aerial parts of Artemisia montana.

The antioxidant activity of Artemisia montana was determined by measuring the radical scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and inhibitory activity against free radical generation of hepatocytes (AC2F). The methanol extract of A. montana showed strong radical scavenging activity at a concentration of 10.1 microg/ml, and thus fractionated by solvent extraction. Esculetin and luteolin 7-O-rutinoside (scolymoside) were isolated as the active principles from the EtOAc and Interphase fractions, respectively. The antioxidant activity of these compounds were comparable to that of L-ascorbic acid.