Antioxidative and free radical scavenging effects of ecdysteroids from Serratula strangulata.

The antioxidative and free radical scavenging effects of four ecdysteroids, 20-hydroxyecdysone (E1), 25-deoxy-11,20-dihydroxyecdysone (E2), 24-(2-hydroxyethyl)-20-hydroxyecdysone (E3), and 20-hydroxyecdysone-20,22-monoacetonide (E4), isolated from the Chinese herb Serratula strangulata have been investigated in vitro. These ecdysteroids could protect human erythrocytes against oxidative hemolysis induced by a water-soluble azo initiator 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane hydrochloride) (AAPH). They could also inhibit the peroxidation of rat liver microsomes induced by hydroxyl radicals, as monitored by the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and prevent radical-induced decrease of membrane fluidity as determined by fluorescence polarization.

Antioxidant effects of green tea polyphenols on free radical initiated peroxidation of rat liver microsomes.

Antioxidative effects of the principal polyphenolic components extracted from green tea leaves, i.e. (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), and gallic acid (GA), against free radical initiated peroxidation of rat liver microsomes were studied.