Free Radical Scavenging of Flavonoids and Their Effects on Erythrocyte Na Leak, Platelet Aggregation and TBARS Production

We compared the radical scavenging activity of flavonoids and their antioxidant effects on erythrocyte Na leak, platelet aggregation and TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance) production, using Sprague Dawley rats. The concentrations of flavonoids needed for scavenging radicals by 50% ($SC_{50}$) in 0.1mM DPPH (2,2 Diphenyl 1-picryl hydrazyl) were: Quercetin, 7.4/$\mu$M; Catechin, 10.6$\mu$M; Morin, 22$\mu$M; Hesperidin, 400uM; and Naringin, 3.95mM. Morin completed its antioxidant activity in 2 minutes, while catechin, hesperidin and naringin had slow but long lasting antioxidant activity. Whole blood platelet aggregation, when incubated with quercetin or catechin, was significantly decreased (P<0.05) compared with the control. Sodium leak in intact erythrocytes was significantly lower when incubated with quercetin, compared with other flavonoids (P<0.05). Morin, hesperidin and naringin somewhat increased Na leak in intact erythrocytes. Sodium leak in erythrocytes treated with phenazine methosulfate (PMS) was increased overall, but was not affected by flavonoids. Intracelluar Na and K were not affected by treatment with PMS. TBARS production in platelet rich plasma (PRP) was significantly lower (P<0.05) than the control when incubated with quercetin or hesperidin. PMS treatment caused an increase in TBARS production regardless of flavonoids. In the present study antioxidant effects of flavonoids were not well correlated with their radical scavenging activities, although quercetin, which showed the strongest radical scavenging activity, had the greatest antioxidant effect.