3종의 사철쑥, 약쑥, 개똥숙 추출물의 항산화 활성을 증가시킬 수 있는 적정 추출방법을 구명하기 위하여 환류냉각추출, 고온가압추출, 저온고압추출 및 초음파추출법을 이용하여 추출한 추출물의 항산화 활성을 비교하였다. 추출수율은 환류냉각과 고온가압추출이 높게 나타났으며, 총 polyphenol 및 총 flavonoid의 함량 또한 환류냉각 추출물이 각각 사철쑥(260.82 mg GAE/g, 11.52 mg RHE/g), 약쑥(218.62 mg GAE/g, 8.32 mg RHE/g), 개똥쑥(189.23 mg GAE/g, 7.35mg RHE/g) 순으로 높았다. DPPH와 ABTS radical 소거능은 쑥의 세 시료 중 모두 환류냉각과 고온가압추출이 높게 나타났으며, 그중 사철쑥이 가장 높은 활성을 나타내었다. 아질산염 소거능과 SOD 유사활성은 사철쑥(45.48%, 68.29%), 약쑥(45.73%, 61.43%), 개똥쑥(44.25%, 58.19%) 모두 환류냉각 추출물에서 가장 우수하였다. 사철쑥 추출물의 지질산패 억제활성은 환류냉각 추출물에서 가장 높았다.
The effect of extraction methods, such as reflux extraction (RE), autoclave extraction (AE), low temperature high pressure extraction (LTPE) and ultrasonification extraction (USE) on antioxidant activity of various species of Artemisia (Artemisia capillaris T., Artemisia princeps P., Artemisia annua L.) was investigated. The extraction yield of RE and AE was higher than other methods tested for all Artemisia. The total polyphenol and flavonoid content of Artemisia sp. extracts from RE was highest of the extraction methods tested. The total polyphenol and flavonoid content of A. capillaris T. extracted by RE was 260.82 mg GAE/g and 11.52 mg RHE/g, respectively. The A. capillaris T. extract showed higher DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity than that of the other tested Artemisia sp. Nitrite scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of various extracts from RE was 45.48% and 68.29% (A. capillaris T.), 45.73% and 61.43% (A. princeps P.), and 44.25% and 58.19% (A. annua L.), respectively. The RE method was the most effective method for extracting antioxidant substances from various A. capillaris T. compared with AE, LTPE and USE. These results suggest that extracts of Artemisia sp. from RE can be used as bioactive and functional materials in the food industry.