• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.1 s.69
• /
• pp.137-147
• /
• 2007

Objective : The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidative effects of Carthami Flos extract. Methods : Total antioxidant status was examined by total antioxidant capacity(TAC) and total antioxidant response(TAR) against potent free radical reactions. The effect of Carthami Flos extract was examined far details of total phenolic content concentration at which 1,1-dipheny1-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) radical scavenging activity was inhibited, the inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation, and the effect on reactive oxygen species(ROS) generation. Results : TAC of Carthami Flos extract at the concentration of 5 mg/ml was 1.84 mM Trolox equivalent. 2. TAR of Carthami Flos extract, on the other hand, couldn't be determined due to interference from unidentified compounds. 3. Total phenolic content of Carthami Flos extract at the concentration of 5 mg/ml was 2.01 mM gallic acid equivalent. 4. Concentration of Carthami Flos extract at which DPPH radical scavenging activity was inhibited by 50% was 6.43 mg/ml as compared to 100% by Pyrogallol solution as a reference. 5. The inhibitory effect of the extract on lipid peroxidation was examined using rat liver mitochondria induced by FeS04/ascorbic acid. Carthami Flos extract at the concentration of 10 ms/ml slightly but significantly decreased TBARS concentration. The extract continued to prevent lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. 6. The effect of Carthami Flos extract on reactive oxygen species(ROS) generation was examined using a cell-free system induced by hydrogen peroxide/FeS04. Addition of 1 mg/ml of Carthami Flos extract significantly reduced dichlorofluorescein(DCF) fluorescence. Carthami Flos extract caused concentration-dependent attenuation of the increase in DCF fluorescence, indicating that the ektract significantly prevented ROS generation in vitro. Conclusion: : Antioxidant efffcts of Carffami ffor extract seem to be due, at least in part, to the prevention offree radical-induced oxidation, fellowed by inhibition of lipid peroxidation.