RESUMO
According to our previous experimental results, maltol is a powerful antioxidant against autoxidation and oxidative stress of eryth-rocytes. In this report, the toxicity and antioxidative action of maltol in mice was investigated. The results indicated that maltol was not toxic in mice when fed in a dose of 50mg/kg?d-1 (body weight) for 1 month. The antioxidative enzymes ( SOD and Cat ) activities and GSH content of erythrocytes were significantly increased. In addition, the lifespan of houseflies fed with maltol was prolonged.
RESUMO
Maltol is a chemical derived from Chinese herb Panax Ginseng. The effect of maltol on hemolysis and hydroperoxidation of erythro-cytes induced by active oxygen radical is presented. Maltol could protect hemolysis induced by H2O2 in vitro. When erythrocyte membrane protein was exposed to butylhydroperoxide in vitro, membrane protein was polymerized, and membrane lipids were oxidized to hydroperoxide compound. These oxidative reactions could inhibited by maltol. The results showed that maltol might act as a scavenger of superoxide of hydroxy radical as demonstrated by biochemical method and ESR spin method。