A series of methanol extracts from leaf and root parts in spring- and winter-barley plants were assayed to determine their allelopathy and antioxidant activity. The methanol extracts applied on filter paper in a Petri-dish significantly inhibited root growth of Chinese milkvetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) seedlings. Leaf extracts at 25 and 50 g L-1 inhibited root growth of Chinese milkvetch seedlings more than root extracts. No difference in phytotoxic effects of spring- and winter-barley seedlings extracts on root growth of Chinese milkvetch was observed. Methanol extracts dose-dependently increased DPPH free radical scavenging activity in vitro. DPPH free radical scavenging activity was higher in the methanol extracts from winter-barley seedlings than in those from spring-barley seedlings, and from leaf extracts than from root extracts. The antioxidant potential of the individual fraction from the methanol extracts of spring-barley seedlings was in order of n-butanol > ethyl acetate > water > chloroform > n-hexane fraction. By means of HPLC analysis, spring-barley (200.62 mg 100 g-1) had more amount of total phenol acid than winter-barley (114.08 mg 100 g-1). Especially, ferulic acid was detected in spring-barley extract (183.46 mg 100 g-1) as the greatest amount. These results suggest that early seedlings of barley plants had potent allelopathy and antioxidant activity, and their activities were differently exhibited depending on plant parts and growing condition.
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