ANTIOXIDANT ACTION OF VACCINIUM-MYRTILLUS L

Vaccinium myrtillus L. is a well-known bilberry shrub belonging to the Ericaceae family. It has been reported to have multiple pharmacologic al activities from its anthocyanosidic fraction: ophthalmic, vaso-prot ective, antiinflammatory, wound-healing, antiulcer and antiatheroscler osis. It is to be expected that several activities might be related to a possible antioxidant action from anthocyanosides. An anthocyanoside complex extract from Vaccinium myrtillus was tested for its ability t o inhibit lipid peroxidation and to scavenge hydroxyl and superoxide r adicals. An antiperoxidative action of this V. myrtillus extract was a ssayed by the Fe3+-ADP/NADPH method in rat liver microsomes. Interacti on of this anthocyanoside extract with hydroxyl radicals was evaluated in the Fe3+-EDTA-H2O2 deoxyribose system. The superoxide scavenging a ction of this plant extract was established according to the reaction of phenazine methasulphate in the presence of NADH and molecular oxyge n. The anthocyanoside complex extract was able to inhibit lipid peroxi dation (IC50 = 50.28 mu g/mL) and to scavenge superoxide anion (IC50 < 25 mu g/mL). The ability to remove hydroxyl radical exerted by this e xtract was detectable from 50 mu g/mL of extract in the reaction mixtu re. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.