Arjunic acid, a strong free radical scavenger from Terminalia arjuna

Am J Chin Med. 2008;36(1):197-207. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X08005709.

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the antioxidant and free radical scavenging capacities of arjunic acid, an aglycone obtained from the fruit of medicine Terminalia Fruit. Liver microsomes, mitochondria, and red blood cells (RBCs) were prepared from Wistar rats. The antioxidant capacity was determined by the inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide induced RBCs hemolysis, and RBCs autoxidative hemolysis. The free radical scavenging activity was tested by DPPH method and 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluoresc in diacetate (DCFH(2)-DA) assay. Ascorbic acid was chosen as the positive controls. Results showed that arjunic acid was a strong antioxidant and a free radical scavenger, more potent than ascorbic acid, in microsomes lipid peroxidation, DPPH, hydrogen peroxide induced RBCs hemolysis, and (DCFH(2)-DA) assay (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the RBCs autoxidative hemolysis assay (p > 0.05).

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism
  • Free Radical Scavengers / isolation & purification
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology*
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Male
  • Microsomes, Liver / drug effects
  • Microsomes, Liver / metabolism*
  • Plant Structures
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Terminalia*
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / metabolism
  • Triterpenes / isolation & purification
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • Triterpenes
  • arjunic acid