SCAVENGING EFFECTS OF MALLOTUS-REPANDUS ON ACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES

The active oxygen species scavenging potencies of Mallotus repandus (W illd.) Muell.-Arg. extracts were evaluated by the electron spin resona nce (ESR) spin-trapping technique. Superoxide radical (O-2(.-)) and hy droxyl radical (OH.) were supplied enzymatically from hypoxanthine-xan thine oxidase (HPX-XOD) reaction and hydrogen peroxide-ferrous sulfate (Fenton reaction), respectively, to the assay system. The ethyl aceta te fraction of Mallotus repandus (stem) showed the greatest superoxide radical scavenger activity and the n-hexane fraction of Mallotus repa ndus (stem as well as root) the greatest hydroxyl radical scavenger ac tivity.