Determination of total phenolics, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity of different mBHT fractions: a polyherbal medicine

In this study, antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoids content of four different fractions from the traditional Korean polyherbal medicine of Modified Bo-yang-Hwan-o-Tang [mBHT] was determined using spectrophotometric methods. Antioxidant activity of fractions was expressed as percentage of DPPH radicals inhibition and IC[50] values [[micro]g/ml]. Values in percentage ranged from 48.35 to 77.43%. The reducing powers of all the extracts were comparable with that of positive control sample of Butylated hydroxyl tolune [BHT] and ascorbic acid which was found to be dose dependent. Total phenolic content ranged from 106.83 +/- 0.002 to 188.661 +/- 0.002mg/g, expressed as gallic acid equivalents. The total flavonoid contents varied from 28.44 +/- 0.001 to 105.25 +/- 0.001mg/g, expressed as quarcetin equivalents. Ethyl acetate fractions of mBHT showed the highest phenolic [188.66 mg GAE/g] and flavonoids [105.25 mg QAE/g] contents and strong antioxidant activity. Total phenolics and flavonoid content of all the mBHT fractions were found reasonably correlated with IC50 of DPPH [R[2]=0.980 and 0.932, respectively]. The high contents of phenolic compounds indicated that these compounds responsible for antioxidant activity. Therefore, ethyl acetate fractions of mBHT can be regarded as promising candidates for natural plant sources of antioxidants

Anti-oxidant and Hepatoprotective Effect of White Ginsengs in H2O2-Treated HepG2 Cells

The antioxidant activity of white ginseng was not recorded in Korea Functional Food Code, while its activity of red ginsengs was recorded. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and hepato protective effect of different ginsengs in H2O2-treated HepG2 cells. White and red ginseng were prepared from longitudinal section of the same fresh ginseng (4-year old). The whole parts of white and red ginsengs were separately extracted with 70% ethanol and distilled water respectively, at 70 degrees C to obtain therapeutic ginseng extracts namely, WDH (distilled water extract of white ginseng), WEH (70% ethanol extract of white ginseng), RDH (distilled water extract of red ginseng) and REH (70% ethanol extract of red ginseng). In this work, we have investigated the DPPH, hydroxyl radical, Fe2+-chelating activity, intracellular ROS scavenging capacity and lipid peroxidation of different ginsengs. All these extracts showed a dose dependent free-radical scavenging capacity and a ROS generation as well as lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced by treatment with bioactive extracts of white ginsengs (WDH) than red ginsengs. Additionally, white ginseng extracts (WDH) has dramatically increased intracellular antioxidant enzyme activities like superoxide dismutase and catalase in H2O2-treated HepG2 cells. All these results explain that administration of white ginseng is useful as herbal medicine than red ginseng for chemoprevention of liver damage.

Effect of the Mixture of Pueraria lobata and Sorbus commixta Extract on the Alcohol-induced Hangover in Rats

Pueraiae Radix (PR), Pueratia Folium (PF) and Sorbus commixta (SC) mixture, namely GS-SP (PR (1)/PF (2)/SC (0.5): v/v/v) was developed as hangover-relieving elixir and its effects on alcoholic metabolism have been investigated. The enzymatic activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) of GS-SP was shown higher than those of single treatment with PR, PL, SC, and the positive control group (YM-808). The survival rate of mouse liver cell line NCTC clone 1469 in the presence of acetaldehyde was 30.6, 22.2, and 8.7% at the GS-SP dosage level of 50, 100, and 200 microg/mL respectively. Different concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of GS-SP showed efficient activity for ADH and ALDH than YM-808 in rat fed with 25% ethanol. The levels of blood alcohol and acetaldehyde after oral administration of 200 mg/kg of GS-SP showed efficient activity of 11.7% and 37% than those of YM-808. These results have been supported to the potential for GS-SP to serve as an excellent potential in providing hangover relief and liver protection.