title: Inhibition of lipid peroxidation and superoxide generation by diterpenoids from Rosmarinus officinalis.
abstract: Four diterpenoids, carnosic acid (1), carnosol (2), rosmanol (3), and epirosmanol (4), were isolated as antioxidative agents from the leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis by bioassay-directed fractionation. These diterpenoids inhibited superoxide anion production in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. Mitochondrial and microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by NADH or NADPH oxidation were also completely inhibited by these diterpenes at the concentration of 3-30 microM. Furthermore, carnosic acid protected red cells against oxidative hemolysis. These phenolic diterpenes were shown to be effective to protect biological systems against oxidative stresses.
mesh_terms: D004224:Diterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013481:Superoxides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D013481:Superoxides