Antioxidative effect of xanthones in Vitro / 中成药

AIM: To study the antioxidative effect of three kinds of xanthone:methylswertianin(MET), bellidifodin(BEL) and decussatin (DEC) extracted from Swertia macrosperma C.B. clark. METHODS: Hydroxy radical was generated from H_2O_2 and VC-Fe~ 2+ system; MDA contents in liver homogenate and mitochondria were measured by thiobabituric acid assay; the hemolysis of RBC and the swelling extent of mitochondria were detected by spectrophotometric methods. RESULTS: Xanthones could inhibit the generation of MDA, the hemolysis of RBC, and the swelling of mitochondria. The inhibitory effect of BEL was stronger than that of MET and DEC. CONCLUSION: Xanthones possess a good antioxidant activity.