The in vitro effect of Helichrysi flos on microsomal lipid peroxidation

Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench has long been known as a medicinal plant in Europe for its cholagogue, choleretic, hepatoprotective and detoxifying activities. Antioxidant properties of its main phenolics, flavonoids may be supposed to be responsible for these effects. The aim of this study was to verify the antioxidant properties of lyophilized water extracts with diffe rent polyphenol and flavonoid contents from inflorescences. The effects of natural extracts on microsomal fraction of rat liver were examined. Enzymat ically induced lipid peroxidation and NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity in liver microsomes were measured by spectrophotometric methods. Results w ere compared with the activity of silibinin flavonoid, the main agent of we ll-known milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.). The natural plant extracts dim inish the enzymatically induced lipid peroxidation in a concentration-depen dent manner and reduce the cytochrome c dose dependently. The sample with h igher polyphenol and flavonoid contents showed more stimulation of NADPH cy tochrome c reductase. The lyophilized Helichrysi flos extracts proved to be more effective compared to silibinin in examined concentrations. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.