Abstract
Scutellariae radix, has been used as a natural drug for fever, inflammation, cataract, and liver disease in traditional medicine. This study was performed in order to investigate the antioxidative effects of Scutellariae radix aqua-acupuncture solution (SRAS) on lipid peroxidation by free radicals. Lipid peroxidation levels were determined by TBA method during the autoxidation of linoleic acid. In this linoleic acid autoxidation system, SRAS markedly exhibited antioxidant activity, which inhibited 89% of linoleic acid peroxidation. SRAS showed scavenging effects on ${\alpha},{\alpha}-diphenyl-{\beta}-picrylhydrazyl$(DPPH) radical, inhibited superoxide generation in xanthine-xathine oxidase system, and also inhibited lipid peroxidation of rat liver tissue by hydroxyl radical derived from $H_2O_2-FE^{+2}$ system. These effects were similar to those of $dl-{\alpha}-tocopherol$, BHA and BHT. In addition, SRAS protected the cell death induced by ter-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) and significantly increased cell viability in the normal rat liver cell (Ac2F). On the basis of these results, it is suggested that SRAS might play a protective role in lipid peroxidation by free radicals.
