The reactive oxygen species scavenging activity of Hsian-tsao (Mesona procumbens Hemsl.) and its protective effect against oxidative damage in Chang liver cells were investigated. Water extracts of Hsian-tsao (WEHT) had antioxidant activity in linoleic acid peroxidation system. WEHT exhibited a positive concentration-dependent scavenging effect on DPPH radical, superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide and peroxyl radical. WEHT inhibited lipid peroxidation in Chang liver cells induced by hydrogen peroxide in a concentration -dependent manner. WEHT could inhibit 89% of oxidative DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide in Chang liver cells, under a concentration of 100 μg/mL, and the phenolic compounds of Hsian-tsao had a 18-41% inhibitory effect. Seven phenolic compounds (kaempferol, apigenin, caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid and p -hydrobenzoic acid) were isolated and identified from the extracts of Hsian-tsao. Caffeic acid, kaempferol and protocatechuic acid had marked inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation in Chang liver cells induced by hydrogen peroxide. The water extracts of Hsian-tsao reduced, by 78%, intracellular reactive oxygen species in Chang liver cells at a concentration of 100 μg/mL, and these species were decreased by 31 and 52% by 10 μΜ caffeic acid and kaempferol, respectivity. Thus, caffeic acid and kaempferol, which had the highest contents of phenolic compounds in the extracts of Hsian-tsao, could be the active components responsible for the antioxidant activity of Hsian-tsao.
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