ASTRAGALUS MEMBRANACEUS AND POLYGONUM-MULTIFLORUM PROTECT RAT-HEART MITOCHONDRIA AGAINST LIPID-PEROXIDATION

We isolated rat heart mitochondria and induced lipid peroxidation with ADP and FeSO4 Oxygen consumption and MDA formation were measured for quantitating the amount of lipid peroxidation. Using these methods, we screened the water extracts of 14 Chinese medicinal herbs for their e ffect on lipid peroxidation. It was found that Astragalus membranaceus inhibited 42.1 +/- 3.4% of oxygen consumption and 39.8 +/- 3.2% of MD A production at concentration of 2 mg dried herb/ml mitochondrial susp ension. At the same concentration, Polygonum multiflorum inhibited 52. 1 +/- 7.3% of oxygen consumption and 50.9 +/- 5.3% of MDA production. Other herbs did not inhibit lipid peroxidation to 50% of control at co ncentration up to 6 mg dried herb/ml mitochondrial suspension. Purific ation and identification of the active component(s) in Astragalus memb ranaceus and Polygonum multiflorum as well as their clinical applicati on await further studies.