ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To assess protective effects of the tara (Caesalpinia spinosa) extract against hyaluronan (HA) degradation evoked by cupric ions and ascorbate. METHODS: Uninhibited/inhibited HA degradation was assayed by a decrease in dynamic viscosity of the HA solutions, whereas as a method rotational viscometry was used. To determine radical scavenging capacity of the tara extract, the ABTS and DPPH assays were performed. RESULTS: The results of rotational viscometry showed remarkable protective effects of the tara extract against the degradation of HA. In the ABTS and DPPH assays the IC50 values of the tara extract 1.59 and 30.8 µg/mL indicated quite high radical scavenging properties. CONCLUSION: The tara extract is an efficient antioxidant as demonstrated by the methods used.
