OBJECTIVE: To investigate the eliminating ability of catechin to eliminate O2-* and *OH. METHODS: The ability of catechin to clear away O2-* and *OH was respectively measured by faintness chemiluminescence and spin trapping assay. RESULTS: IC50 that catechin eliminated O2-* and *OH was 6.16, 0.59 g/mL respectively, and the eliminating ability of catechin was much stronger than that of the extract from liquorice, rosemary, grape pip, giant knotweed and ginkgo leaf. CONCLUSION Compared with several important natural plants of antioxidants, the eliminating ability of cathechin is the best.
Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Catechin ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Hydroxyl Radical ; metabolism ; Luminescent Measurements ; Superoxides ; metabolism

The average life expectancy in Macau is ranking the second in the world, the consumption of fresh medicinal plants is a profound culture in Macau. The paper focus on the distribution of the antioxidant herbs, a comprehensive investigation and analysis the amount of the plant resources was carried out. The antioxidant activity of alcohol extracts was determined by using the DPPH method, and six kinds fresh herbs with high antioxidant free radical activity were screened out. Reference to adult daily dose of vitamin C, it is calculated that the daily dose amount of fresh herbs is less than 200 g. For the expected shortage of resources and the ecological status of Macau, we give some suggestions of herbal introduction in population ecology reconstruction.
Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ecosystem ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Macau ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

Catechin and its analogues are varied and distributed widely. They have significant bioactivity on clearing free radical, anti-cancer, anti-flammatory, anti-allergic, anti-mutation, anti-aging, improving liver function, and so on. Recently, catechins (GTC) in green tea have given rise to comprehensive attention all over the world, and will have a wonderful prospect. The progress in studies of the structures, spectrum characters, resources and bioactivities of catechin and its analogues has been reviewed.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the scavenging effects of Lu-Duo-Wei, thiourea, superoxide dismutase, and sodium azide on carbon disulfide-induced generation of hydroxyl radicals.

METHODSPhenanthroline-CuSO(4)-Vit C-H(2)O(2) chemiluminescence system (PHEN system) containing alcohol was established to probe the influence of various concentrations of carbon disulfide on hydroxyl radicals emission intensity and the scavenging effects of Lu-Duo-Wei and other antioxidants on carbon disulfide-induced hydroxyl radicals were observed.

RESULTSThe average emission intensity of PHEN system containing alcohol appeared lower luminescence [91.03 x 10(3) (cp6s)] and longer time (75 s) to get the peak than the system without alcohol [96.11 x 10(3) (cp6s), 55 s]. The specific scavenger of hydroxyl radical, thiourea, showed clear inhibitory effect on the system. Carbon disulfide in the range of 40 - 160 mmol/L promoted the generation of hydroxyl radical, however, this effect could be efficiently inhibited by thiourea. 160 mmol/L carbon disulfide in PHEN system without copper seemed as an activator to promote the luminescence, while in PHEN system withdrawing phenanthroline appeared some weak action of luminescence agent at low concentration. Meanwhile, Lu-Duo-Wei may efficiently scavenge hydroxyl radicals induced by carbon disulfide in PHEN system but superoxide dismutase and sodium azide had little effects on the system.

CONCLUSIONCarbon disulfide may induce PHEN system to generate hydroxyl radicals and Lu-Duo-Wei may efficiently scavenge these free radicals and play an important role in protection against oxidative injury induced by carbon disulfide.

Carbon Disulfide ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Hydroxyl Radical ; antagonists & inhibitors ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Luminescent Measurements ; Phenanthrolines ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; pharmacology ; Thiourea ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of Panax Ginseng (PG), Aconitum Carmichaeli (AC), and their combination (PG-AC) on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

METHODSRat's ischemia reperfusion injury model was established by ligating left anterior descending coronary artery for 60 min followed by reperfusion for 240 min. Forty male rats were randomly divided into five groups, the sham operation group, the model group, the three treated groups. The three treated groups were treated with PG, AC and PG-AC respectively by given the drugs 10 min before ischemia reperfusion, and to the sham operation group and the model group, saline was given instead. The infarction area, pathologic changes of myocardial tissue (under light and electron microscopy), activity of creatine phosphokinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum, content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in myocardial tissue were observed to evaluate the protective effect of treatment.

RESULTSThe area of acute myocardial infarction was lesser, activity of LDH and CK were lower in the three treated groups than those in the model group. Content of SOD was significantly higher and that of MDA was markedly lower in the former three than those in the model group. Light and electron microscopic examination showed that the necrotic degeneration and pathologic changes of myocardiocytes in the treated groups were significantly milder than that of the model group. As comparing the effect between the three treated groups, PG-AC showed the best, and insignificant difference was shown between PG and AC.

CONCLUSIONBoth PG and AC, and their combination have obviously protective effects on myocardium against ischemia reperfusion injury, which of PG-AC is superior to that of PG or AC used singly.

Aconitum ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; pathology ; Panax ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Dendrobium devonianum and identify the material basis components of its function, and then provide the basis for development and utilization of D. devonianum.

METHODThe constituents were separated and purified on the chromatography of silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and RP-18 silica gel, and then their structures were elucidated based on the spectra data. ABTS method was used to evaluate the free radical scavenging activity of the phenolic compounds among them.

RESULTNine compounds were isolated and identified as 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b] indole-3-carboxylic acid (1), 2'-deoxythymidine (2), adenosine (3), N-trans-p-coumaroyl tyramine (4), N-trans-p-feruloyl tyramine (5), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (6), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (7), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester (8), and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid (9). Compound 5 showed good antioxidant activity with IC50 1. 61 mmol. L-1, Compound 9 showed weak antioxidant activity with IC50 35.72 mmol. L-1.

CONCLUSIONAll these compounds were isolated from D. devonianum for the first time. Among them, compounds 5 and 9 had some antioxidant activity.

Dendrobium ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Inhibitory Concentration 50

A double targets of high throughput screening model for xanthine oxidase inhibitors and superoxide anion scavengers was established. In the reaction system of xanthine oxidase, WST-1 works as the probe for the ultra oxygen anion generation, and product uric acid works as xanthine oxidase activity indicator. By using SpectraMax M5 continuous spectrum enzyme sign reflectoscope reflector, the changes of these indicators' concentration were observed and the influence factors of this reaction system to establish the high throughput screening model were studied. And the model is confirmed by positive drugs. In the reaction system, the final volume of reaction system is 50 μL and the concentrations of xanthine oxidase is 4 mU x mL(-1), xanthine 250 μmol x L(-1) and WST-1 100 μmol x L(-1), separately. The Z'-factor of model for xanthine oxidase inhibitors is 0.537 4, S/N is 47.519 9; the Z'-factor of model for superoxide anion scavengers is 0.507 4, S/N is 5.388 9. This model for xanthine oxidase inhibitors and superoxide anion scavengers has more common characteristics of the good stability, the fewer reagent types and quantity, the good repeatability, and so on. And it can be widely applied in high-throughput screening research.
Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; Superoxides ; Uric Acid ; Xanthine ; Xanthine Oxidase ; antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differences of total flavonoid (TF) content and antifree radical activity between the-leaves of bamboo and Gingo biloba, as well as their seasonal changes.

METHODSpectrophotometery and Chemiluminescence methods were adopted to determine TF and half inhibiting concentration (IC50) on active oxygen free radicals of the leaves of bamboo, phyllostachys nigra (Lodd. ex. Lindl.) Munro, and Ginkgo biloba. Two kinds of leaves were picked in the same plot at the same time monthly.

RESULTThe TF of bamboo leaf varied in the range of 0.67%-1.71% (in dry basis of leaf, below as same) throughout a year, the minimum apparing in June and the maximum in July, then going down obviously, and remaining at a much high lever during November to next April. However, the TF of Ginkgo bilabo leaf varied in 1.48%-2.49% during whole growing period, early April to late November. It ascended with the growth of leaf, reaching the top during June and July, the going down slowly, and finally another peak appeared before defoliation. The average IC50 values on O2-. and .OH of bamboo leaf were at 11.0 micrograms.mL-1 and 5.3 mg.mL-1, and Ginkgo biloba at 19.0 micrograms.mL-1 and 3.6 mg.mL-1, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe TF content and anti-free radical activity the bamboo leaf are comparable with the leaf of ginkgo biloba, which is a kind of potential resources for natural antioxidant and free radical scavenger.

Flavonoids ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Poaceae ; chemistry ; Seasons

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antioxidant activities of different chemical constituents from Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and their protection against xanthine (XA)/xanthine oxidase (XO)-induced toxicity in PC12 cells.

METHODSThe compounds of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge were isolated by chromatography and the structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data interpretation. Their antioxidant activities were detected by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities in a cell-free system. Meanwhile, the effects against XA/XO-induced toxicity were assessed using MTT assay in PC12 cells.

RESULTSTen principal constituents were isolated and identified as formononetin (I), ononin (II), calycosin (III), calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (IV), 9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan-3-O-beta-D-glucoside (V), adenosine (VI), pinitol (VII), daucosterol (VIII), beta-sitoster (IX) and saccharose (X) from Astragalus mongholicus Bunge. The compounds I, III, and IV scavenged DPPH free radicals in vitro. Formononetin and calycosin were found to inhibit XA/XO-induced cell injury significantly, with an estimated EC50 of 50 ng/mL.

CONCLUSIONCompound II, VI, and VII are first reported in this plant. Calycosin exhibits the most potent antioxidant activity both in the cell-free system and in the cell system.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Free Radicals ; metabolism ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Rats ; Xanthine ; toxicity ; Xanthine Oxidase ; toxicity

The paper reviews the recent developments in pharmacological activities of echinacoside (ECH). ECH is a phenylethanoid glycoside isolated and purified from the stems of Cistanche salsa, a parasitic plant native to northwest China, which is used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. During past years, ECH had been shown to possess powerful ability of anti-oxidant and free radical scavenging properties. It has been evident that ECH had neuroprotective effects and prevent liver injuries. Besides, ECH has affect in anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antiaging, immunoregulation, improving learning memory and so on. Therefore, ECH should be considered for further study and develop as a novel drug.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; China ; Cistanche ; chemistry ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Glycosides ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oxidopamine ; pharmacology ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Research