Herbal antioxidant in clinical practice: A review

Abstract

Antioxidant-the word itself is magic. Using the antioxidant concept as a spearhead in proposed mechanisms for staving off so-called "free-radical" reactions, the rush is on to mine claims for the latest and most effective combination of free-radical scavenging compounds. We must acknowledge that such "radicals" have definitively been shown to damage all biochemical components such as DNA/RNA, carbohydrates, unsaturated lipids, proteins, and micronutrients such as carotenoids (alpha and beta carotene, lycopene), vitamins A, B6, B12, and folate. Defense strategies against such aggressive radical species include enzymes, antioxidants that occur naturally in the body (glutathione, uric acid, ubiquinol-10, and others) and radical scavenging nutrients, such as vitamins A, C, and E, and carotenoids. This paper will present a brief discussion of some well- and little-known herbs that may add to the optimization of antioxidant status and therefore offer added preventive values for overall health. It is important to state at the outset that antioxidants vary widely in their free-radical quenching effects and each may be individually attracted to specific cell sites. Further evidence of the specialized nature of the carotenoids is demonstrated by the appearance of two carotenoids in the macula region of the retina where beta-carotene is totally absent.

Neuroprotective Effects of Quercetin in Alzheimer’s Disease

“…It can also be isolated in free-form from leaf surfaces, fruits, or bud extracts. Plant families rich in quercetin are Compositae, Passiflorae, Rhamnaceae, and Solanaceae [49]. Onions, asparagus, red leaf lettuce, apples, capers, and berries contain relatively high concentrations of quercetin [29,50].The botanical sources of quercetin have been summarized in Table 1.…”

“…Among the phytochemicals, quercetin is a potent antioxidant. It has been shown to effectively reduce the concentrations of superoxide anion free radicals, and its antioxidant potential makes it a versatile choice in the management of various disorders, including AD [49]. Previous studies have shown that quercetin has direct radical scavenging action.…”

Evaluation of antioxidant efficacy of different fractions of Tagetes erecta L. Flowers

“…Its leading to excessive damage of all bio molecules like DNA, RNA, lipids, proteins micronutrients like carotenoids, vitamins, etc (Lee et al, 2010) The oxidation induced by free radicals can result in cell membrane destruction and membrane protein disintegration and mutation, which can further initiate the development of many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, liver injury, and arthritis (Alok et al, 2014) Medicinal plants produce many substances that are biologically active and working together catalytically and synergistically to increase the activity (Patwardhan and Gautam, 2005). The plants have effective capacity to scavenge free radicals and represent a source of multifunctional properties.…”

Determination of the Antioxidative Activities of Herbs Harvested in Japan by Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity Methods

“…Many traditional herbs have been used as folk medicines for the treatment of health problems (Alok et al, 2014). In Japan, the consumption of several herbs, such as basil and parsley, has been increasing as a result of the westernization of the diet.…”