Antioxidant activity and mechanism of Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it>

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>As a typical Chinese herbal medicine, rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it> (RC, 升麻 in Chinese) possesses various pharmacological effects involved in antioxidant activity. However, its antioxidant activity has not been reported so...

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Main Authors: Li Xican, Lin Jing, Gao Yaoxiang, Han Weijuan, Chen Dongfeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2012-11-01
Series:Chemistry Central Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journal.chemistrycentral.com/content/6/1/140
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spelling doaj-53a8d5cdbf8141b0a91eda18c5865a172021-08-02T09:09:13ZengBMCChemistry Central Journal1752-153X2012-11-016114010.1186/1752-153X-6-140Antioxidant activity and mechanism of Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it>Li XicanLin JingGao YaoxiangHan WeijuanChen Dongfeng<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>As a typical Chinese herbal medicine, rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it> (RC, 升麻 in Chinese) possesses various pharmacological effects involved in antioxidant activity. However, its antioxidant activity has not been reported so far. The aim of the present study was to systematically evaluate the antioxidant ability of RC <it>in vitro,</it> then discuss the mechanism.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Firstly, five RC extracts (i.e. petroleum ether extract PERC, ethyl acetate extract EARC, absolute ethanol extract AERC, 95% ethanol extract 95ERC, and water extract WRC) were prepared and determined by various antioxidant methods, including anti-lipidperoxidation, protection against DNA damage, ·OH scavenging, ·O<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup> scavenging, DPPH· (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazl radical) scavenging, ABTS<sup>+</sup>· (2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzo- thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical ion) scavenging, Cu<sup>2+</sup>-chelating, and Fe<sup>3+</sup> reducing assays. Subsequently, we measured the chemical contents of five RC extracts, including total phenolics, total saponins, total sugars, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and isoferulic acid. Finally, we quantitatively analyzed the correlations between antioxidant levels (1/IC<sub>50</sub> values) and chemical contents.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the study, the antioxidant levels and chemical contents (including total phenolics, total saponins, total sugars, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and isoferulic acid) of five RC extracts were determined by various methods. In all antioxidant assays, five RC extracts increased the antioxidant levels in a dose-dependent manner. However, their antioxidant levels (IC<sub>50</sub> values) and chemical contents significantly differed from each other. Quantitative analysis of the correlation showed that total phenolic was of significant positive correlations (average <it>R</it> value was 0.56) with antioxidant levels; In contrast, total sugars and total saponins had no positive correlation with antioxidant (the average R values were −0.20 and −0.26, for total sugars and total saponins, respectively); Among total phenolics, three phenolic acids (caffeic acid, ferulic acid and isoferulic acid) also displayed positive correlations (the average R values were 0.51, 0.50, and 0.51, for caffeic acid, ferulic acid and isoferulic acid, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>As an effective antioxidant, Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it> can protect DNA and lipids against oxidative damage. Its antioxidant ability can be responsible for its various pharmacological effects and may be mainly attributed to the existence of total phenolics, among which caffeic acid, ferulic acid and isoferulic acid are regarded as main bioactive components. Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it> exerts its antioxidant effect through metal-chelating, and radical-scavenging which is via donating hydrogen atom (H·) and donating electron (e).</p> http://journal.chemistrycentral.com/content/6/1/140Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it>升麻Antioxidant activityMetal chelatingRadical-scavengingPhenolic acid
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Li Xican
Lin Jing
Gao Yaoxiang
Han Weijuan
Chen Dongfeng
spellingShingle Li Xican
Lin Jing
Gao Yaoxiang
Han Weijuan
Chen Dongfeng
Antioxidant activity and mechanism of Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it>
Chemistry Central Journal
Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it>
升麻
Antioxidant activity
Metal chelating
Radical-scavenging
Phenolic acid
author_facet Li Xican
Lin Jing
Gao Yaoxiang
Han Weijuan
Chen Dongfeng
author_sort Li Xican
title Antioxidant activity and mechanism of Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it>
title_short Antioxidant activity and mechanism of Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it>
title_full Antioxidant activity and mechanism of Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it>
title_fullStr Antioxidant activity and mechanism of Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it>
title_full_unstemmed Antioxidant activity and mechanism of Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it>
title_sort antioxidant activity and mechanism of rhizoma <it>cimicifugae</it>
publisher BMC
series Chemistry Central Journal
issn 1752-153X
publishDate 2012-11-01
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>As a typical Chinese herbal medicine, rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it> (RC, 升麻 in Chinese) possesses various pharmacological effects involved in antioxidant activity. However, its antioxidant activity has not been reported so far. The aim of the present study was to systematically evaluate the antioxidant ability of RC <it>in vitro,</it> then discuss the mechanism.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Firstly, five RC extracts (i.e. petroleum ether extract PERC, ethyl acetate extract EARC, absolute ethanol extract AERC, 95% ethanol extract 95ERC, and water extract WRC) were prepared and determined by various antioxidant methods, including anti-lipidperoxidation, protection against DNA damage, ·OH scavenging, ·O<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup> scavenging, DPPH· (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazl radical) scavenging, ABTS<sup>+</sup>· (2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzo- thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical ion) scavenging, Cu<sup>2+</sup>-chelating, and Fe<sup>3+</sup> reducing assays. Subsequently, we measured the chemical contents of five RC extracts, including total phenolics, total saponins, total sugars, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and isoferulic acid. Finally, we quantitatively analyzed the correlations between antioxidant levels (1/IC<sub>50</sub> values) and chemical contents.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the study, the antioxidant levels and chemical contents (including total phenolics, total saponins, total sugars, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and isoferulic acid) of five RC extracts were determined by various methods. In all antioxidant assays, five RC extracts increased the antioxidant levels in a dose-dependent manner. However, their antioxidant levels (IC<sub>50</sub> values) and chemical contents significantly differed from each other. Quantitative analysis of the correlation showed that total phenolic was of significant positive correlations (average <it>R</it> value was 0.56) with antioxidant levels; In contrast, total sugars and total saponins had no positive correlation with antioxidant (the average R values were −0.20 and −0.26, for total sugars and total saponins, respectively); Among total phenolics, three phenolic acids (caffeic acid, ferulic acid and isoferulic acid) also displayed positive correlations (the average R values were 0.51, 0.50, and 0.51, for caffeic acid, ferulic acid and isoferulic acid, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>As an effective antioxidant, Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it> can protect DNA and lipids against oxidative damage. Its antioxidant ability can be responsible for its various pharmacological effects and may be mainly attributed to the existence of total phenolics, among which caffeic acid, ferulic acid and isoferulic acid are regarded as main bioactive components. Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it> exerts its antioxidant effect through metal-chelating, and radical-scavenging which is via donating hydrogen atom (H·) and donating electron (e).</p>
topic Rhizoma <it>Cimicifugae</it>
升麻
Antioxidant activity
Metal chelating
Radical-scavenging
Phenolic acid
url http://journal.chemistrycentral.com/content/6/1/140
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