Antioxidant activity and DNA fingerprint of four varieties of lotus stamens (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.)

DNA fingerprints of stamens of four varieties of Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn) were established and their antioxidant activity was studied. PCR amplification was used for identification of Lotus DNA by using OPS3, OPS11, OPS13 and OPE3 random decamer-primers. The result showed variety-specific markers of Pathum, Sattabongkot, Boontharik and Sattabuut varieties. The antioxidant activities of solutions in methanol and mixed-solvent of the four varieties were determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) model. The antioxidant activities (IC50) of methanol solution of the four varieties were 68.306.30, 62.224.00, 31.603.40 and 40.901.50 g.mL-1, respectively, whereas those of the mixed-solvent solution were 2.210.06, 2.230.05, 1.290.02 and 1.830.07 mg.mL-1. The result showed that IC50 of both solutions of Sattabongkot were significantly low (p<0.05, at the confidence level of 95%), indicating a higher activity than the others.