The antioxidation effects of Cinnamomi Cortex (CC), Cinnamomi Ramulus (CR), Cinnamomi Petiole (CP) on the radical scavenging ability from the contents of glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidase (LPO) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase in rat liver cells were examined.
In in vivo studies, the acetaminophen-induced inhibitions of SOD, LPO and catalase activities were significantly recovered by the treatments of CC, CR, and CP extracts. The recovery by CR extract has similar effects on the antioxidation compared with ascorbic acid, well-known antioxidant.
The decrease of GSH contents in rat liver induced by acetaminophen was completely recovered to the normal levels by the treatment of CC extract. There were slight increases in its contents in CR-treated group.
The data indicate that CR has a depressive effect on the production of free radicals and changes in the activities of enzymes involved in the antioxidation. On the other hand, CC seemed to have the most significant effect on the increase of GSH contents. Compared to other, CP had smaller effects on the antioxidation.
These results suggest that CR seems to have more potent effects on the antioxidation than other parts of Cinamomum cassia and different mechanisms might be involved in the anitoxidation processes of CC, CP, and CR.
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