Antioxidant and immunoregulatory effects of Centella asiatica extracts / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To determine the antioxidant and the immunoregulatory effects of Centella asiatica extracts. METHODS: Centella asiatica was extracted with alcohol and different organic solvent. The content of polyphenol was determined by Folin-ciocalteau method. The efficacy of the extracts to scavenge the hydroxy radical (OH·), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH·) and intra-cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured. Lymphocyte proliferation was assessed to observe the influence of Centella asiatica extracts. RESULTS: (1) Centella asiatica was found to have abundant polyphenol extrated from different phases and in a descending order as follows ethyl acetate extracts>n-butanol extracts>water extracts>ligarine extracts. (2) Extracts of Centella asiatica exhibited the scavenging efficacy of OH· and DPPH· free radicals, in which the acetic ether extracts showed the significant effect. (3) The acetic ether extracts had significant ability to inhibit the generation of ROS in stimulated lymphocytes. (4) The acetic ether extracts suppressed the lymphocyte proliferation. (5) The active ingredient was identified as flavone. CONCLUSION: Flavones in the Centella asiatica posseses antioxidant activity and effectively inhibits lymphocyte proliferation, showing ability of immunosuppre-ssion.