Cuscutae Semen extracts( Cuscuta japonica Choisy and Cuscuta australis R. Brown) were biologically evaluated in vitro and in vivo for the effects on anti-lipid peroxidation, the activities of free radical scavenging enzymes, and the content of carbonyl compound in rat liver tissues, In general, both Cuscutae Semen extracts decreased the lipid peroxides and carbonyl content in a dose-dependent manner and increased the enzyme activities dose-dependently, however, the effects of Cuscuta australis R.Brown is stronger than those of Cuscuta japonica Choisy.
The obtained results are summarised as follows:
1. Cuscutae Semen extracts were decreased significantly the lipid peroxides in a dosedependent manner. The anti-lipid peroxidative effect of Cuscuta australis was stronger than that of Cuscuta japonica. Among the various extracts, methanol fraction is most effective and butanol fraction showed a weakest effect.
2. The radical scavenging effect of Cuscuta australis was stronger than that of Cuscuta japonica. The methanol fraction was most active, however, hexane and chloroform fractions exhibited practically no effect.
3. The inhibitory effect of Cuscuta australis on catalase activity was stronger than that of Cuscuta australis.
4. The inhibitory effect of Cuscuta australis on superoxide dismutase activity was somewhat stronger than that of Cuscuta japonica
5. The inhibitory effect of Cuscuta australis on the activities of GSH peroxidase, GSH S-transferase, and GSH-reductase were highter than those of Cuscuta japonica.
6. The extract of Cuscuta australis reduced the carbonyl content more stronger than that of Cuscuta japonica.
In conclusion, two kinds of Cuscutae Semen exhibited significant antioxidative effects, among them, the effect of Cuscuta australis was stronger than that of Cuscuta japonica.
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