ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF CHINESE ANT EXTRACT PREPARATIONS

Chinese ant extract preparations (CAEP) are a Chinese traditional medi cine which is mainly used as a health food or drink for the treatment of rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic hepatitis, sexual hypofun ction, and antiaging in China. The effects on free radicals were exami ned by electron spin resonance spectrometry using the spin trapping ag ent 5.5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide (DMPO). Superoxide radicals (3.35 X 10(15) spins/ml) were quenched 50% by the extract at 0.5 mg/ml. The CAEP extract at 0.7 mg/ml inhibited 50% of hydroxyl radicals (52.0 x 10(15) spins/ml) generated by the Fenton reaction. Against DPPH radica l, the scavenging action of CAEP was observed at 1.8 mg/ml of the extr act and 50% of the DPPH radicals (8.14 X 10(15) spins/ml) were quenche d. In vitro tests showed that CAEP inhibited the production of thiobar bituric acid-reactive substances, an index of lipid peroxidation, in r at brain homogenate.