Comparison of Antioxidant Activities between Camellia Mistletoe and Oak Mistletoe Extracts Collected from Gurye and Jeju regions.

In this study, we analyzed the qualitative characteristics and antioxidant activities of extracts of camellia mistletoe(Korthalsella japonica (Thunb.) Engl.) and oak mistletoe(Viscum album var. coloratum) collected from the Gurye and Jeju regions in South Korea. The moisture content, color, antioxidant properties, and amino acid composition were all examined. The Gurye oak mistletoe group showed the highest moisture content (8.79%), whereas color analysis revealed variations among the groups. Antioxidant properties were evaluated through assessment of DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, total polyphenol content, and total flavonoid content. Antioxidant activity analyses demonstrated that camellia mistletoe extracts, particularly from Gurye, exhibited superior antioxidant properties and higher bioactive compound content across all parameters. This suggests that the physiological characteristics of mistletoe may be influenced by environmental factors and host plant properties. Amino acid analysis showed that Gurye camellia mistletoe extract contained the highest total amino acid and proline levels, whereas Gurye oak mistletoe extract had elevated arginine content. These findings provide valuable insights into the antioxidant properties of mistletoe extracts from different regions and host plants in South Korea, and highlight their potential as natural antioxidants and functional food ingredients. These results will pave the way for further research and development in this area, particularly focusing on the Gurye camellia mistletoe extract.