The　protective　effect　of　3　areca　inflorescence　extracts　(boiling　water　extract,　ambient　temperature　water　extract　and　ethanol　extract)　on　hydrogen　peroxide-induced　oxidative　damage　to　human　serum　albumin　was　investigated　by　comparing　with　Trolox,　the　water　soluble　vitamin　E.　Protein　carbonyl　groups,　protein　hydroperoxides,1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl　(DPPH)　radical　scavenging　activity,　hydrogen　peroxide　scavenging　activity　and　total　phenolic　content　were　examined.　The　results　showed　that　boiling　water　extract　had　the　most　protective　effect　on　human　serum　albumin　damage　induced　by　hydrogen　peroxide,　comparable　to　Trolox,　followed　by　the　room　ambient　temperature　water　extract　and　ethanol　extract.　The　total　phenolic　content　of　boiling　water　extract,　ambient　temperature　water　extract,　and　ethanol　extract　was　1.949　+/-　0.003,　1.842　+/-　0.001　and　0.983　+/-　0.011　mg　gallic　acid　equivalent/ml　extract,　respectively,　and　six　phenolic　compositions　such　as　gallic　acid,　coumalic　acid,　epicatechin,　fumalic　acid,　naringenin　and　rutin　have　been　found　in　these　areca　inflorescence　extracts.　These　data　suggest　that　areca　inflorescence　is　a　new　source　of　natural　antioxidants.　(C)　2010　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.