The total phenol content, antioxidant and pro-oxidant activities of deodourised, water-soluble aniseed, basil, caraway, cardamon, fennel, ginger, juniper, laurel and parsley extracts were estimated using a number of in vitro assays. The laurel and basil extracts contained the highest phenol content of 107.3±1.3 GAE [mg gallic acid equivalents/g (dry wt.) extract] and 98.5±1.4 GAE, respectively, whilst the ginger extract contained the lowest content at 14.9±0.9 GAE. Juniper, laurel and basil extracts were consistently better than the other extracts in terms of iron(III) reducing activity, inhibition of β-carotene-linoleate thermal co-oxidation and N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. Potential pro-oxidant activities of the extracts were assessed using both DNA and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as substrates. None of the extracts were capable of stimulating hydroxyl-mediated DNA fragmentation; however, the extracts could be categorised in the protein oxidation assay as extracts with (i) no significant (p>0.05) effect, (ii) a significant (p<0.05) protective effect or (iii) a significant (p<0.05) pro-oxidant effect. The extracts from juniper, laurel and basil had a pro-oxidative effect upon BSA at a dose of 2mg/ml, as estimated from the degree of carbonylation measured.

Raingardens capture and filter urban stormwater using sandy soils and drought-tolerant plants. An emerging question is whether raingardens can also be used as vegetable gardens, potentially increasing their popularity and implementation. A successful vegetable raingarden will need to both retain stormwater and produce vegetables, despite potential water deficits between rainfall events. To determine whether raingardens can provide this dual functionality, we undertook a greenhouse pot experiment using two different substrates (loamy sand raingarden substrate and potting mix typical of containerised vegetable growing) and two methods of stormwater application (‘sub-surface’ and ‘surface’ watering) with the water quantity at each application determined by average Melbourne summer rainfall. Overall, potting mix produced bigger plants (biomass and leaf area) and greater yield than did the loamy sand. Yield effects were variable: tomato yield was unaffected by treatment, bean yield was greatest in potting mix, beetroot yield was greatest with sub-surface watering and parsley yield was greatest with surface watering. Bigger plants also had greater transpiration, which meant that stormwater retention was greatest for parsley and tomato plants growing in potting mix with surface watering. Although, a raingarden with potting mix and surface application of stormwater was optimal for producing food and retaining stormwater under our rainfall regime, potting mix could be problematic due to higher nutrient leaching and breakdown over time. Therefore, we recommend using a mix of loamy sand and potting mix. However, the choice of substrate and watering treatment require trade-offs between yield, stormwater retention and potential implications for water quality and long-term stability of hydraulic properties.