Antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, and whitening effects of extracts of Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb

In the present study, we analyzed the antioxidant, antiplatelet aggregation, anti-inflammatory, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of a variety of solvent extracts of Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb. (Family Elaeagnaceae). Among the solvent extracts of E. multiflora, the ethyl acetate extract (EE) exhibited the highest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and xanthine oxidase inhibition activity, as well as the greatest tyrosinase inhibition activity. Only the chloroform extract (CE) inhibited platelet aggregation, and that was a weak effect with 19.29% inhibition at 250 microg/mL, as compared to controls. The CE was also the most potent inhibitor of nitric oxide production among the tested fractions, with almost 100% inhibition at 500 microg/mL. We also detected 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol in the CE and EE, via a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry assay. In conclusion, we found that E. multiflora Thunb. has antioxidant and antiplatelet aggregation effects to some extent, and its CE and EE possess potent inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production and tyrosinase activity.