This study was designed to assess the anti-oxidation and biological activities of extracts from Hypericum ascyron L.. The contents of phenolic compounds in water and 90% ethanol extracts from H. ascyron L. were 29.75 and 31.82 mg/g, respectively. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical decolorization activities of water and ethanol extracts were 86.90% and 91.71% as well as 90.45% and 98.05% at a phenolic content of 100 µg/mL, respectively. The antioxidant protection factor (PF) values of water and ethanol extracts at a phenolic content of 50 µg/mL were 2.11 PF and 2.22 PF, respectively. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance values were 81.75% in water extract and 93.67% in ethanol extract at a phenolic content of 200 µg/mL. The inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase were 43.47% in water extract and 100.00% in ethanol extract at a phenolic content of 200 µg/mL. The inhibitory activities against xanthine oxidase in water and ethanol extracts were 49.52% and 85.30% at a phenolic content of 200 µg/mL, respectively. Tyrosinase inhibitory activities as a measure of whitening activity in ethanol extracts were 89.59% at a phenolic content of 200 µg/mL, respectively. The collagenase and elastase inhibitory activities as a measure of anti-wrinkle activity were 84.76% and not detected in water extract as well as 98.46% and 75.59% in ethanol extract at a phenolic content of 200 µg/mL, respectively. Astringent effect as a measure of pore tightening activity of the ethanol extracts were 88.23% at a phenolic content of 200 µg/mL, respectively. The results show that extracts from H. ascyron L. can be used as a functional resource with antioxidant, carbohydrate degradation inhibitory, anti-gout, whitening, anti-wrinkle, and pore tightening activities.

Keywords: biological activities, extracts, phenolic compounds, Hypericum ascyron L.