Table 1.

Total policosanol content and antioxidant capacity of milk thistle oil, at three seed maturity stages

Maturation stage	Policosanol content (mg/kg oil)	DPPHa scaveninig ability	ATBSb scaveninig ability
Immature	987.68 ± 16.41	96.42 ± 2.28	90.35 ± 2.6
Intermediate Mature	612.24 ± 5.89	84.46 ± 1.52	77.48 ± 1.8
	574.49 ± 6.34	76.52 ± 1.76	70.25 ± 1.34

Values were expressed as means ± SD of triplicate experiments

^aDPPH 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and results are expressed as percentage of inhibition of DPPH by the oil

^bABTS : 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethyl-benzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and results are expressed as percentage of inhibition of ABTS by the oil