Abstract: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging,［2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid］diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were used to evaluated the extracts of Spiraea hirsuta (Hemsl.) Schneid with BHT as positive control.The results showed that the n-butanol extract of S.hirsuta showed higher scavenging activity against DPPH radical (IC₅₀=42.2 μg/mL) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (TEAC=1052.46 μmol/g).The ethyl acetate extract had better ABTS radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀=6.4 μg/mL),but weaker than that of BHT (IC₅₀ and TEAC were 23,2.3 μg/mL and 1532.7 μmol/g,respectively).The n-butanol extract showed the highest antioxidant activity in vitro.

Key words: Spiraea hirsuta (Hemsl.) Schneid, antioxidant activity, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP