title: Antioxidant effects of an aqueous extract of Ilex paraguariensis.
abstract: In this work we investigate the antioxidant properties of an aqueous extract prepared from an infusion of Ilex paraguariensis (Aquifoliaceae) using free radical-generating systems. The extract inhibited the enzymatic and nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes in a concentration-dependent fashion, with IC(50) values of 18 microg/ml and 28 microg/ml, respectively. The extract also inhibited the H(2)O(2)-induced peroxidation of red blood cell membranes with an IC(50) of 100 microg/ml and exhibited radical scavenging properties toward superoxide anion (IC(50) = 15 microg/ml) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical. In the range of concentrations used, the extract was not a scavenger of the hydroxyl radical. Our results suggest that ingestion of extracts of Ilex paraguariensis could contribute to increase the antioxidant defense of an organism against free radicals attack.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CIC Pcia. de Buenos Aires, 60 y 120, La Plata Buenos Aires, 1900, Argentina.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Schinella
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Troiani
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dávila
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: de Buschiazzo
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Tournier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts