title: Antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects of the tannins of Terminalia catappa L.
abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) react with biological molecules and destroy the structure of cells and eventually cause free radical-induced disease such as inflammation and cancer. Previous studies showed that an aqueus extract of Terminalia catappa L. exhibited superoxide radical scavenger activity and modification of mitomycin C-induced clasto-genicity. In order to investigate the multiple antioxidant effect of the tannin components of T. catappa L., their ability to prevent lipid peroxidation, superoxide formation and their free radical scavenging activity were evaluated. The results indicated that all of these components showed potent antioxidant activity. Punicalagin and punicalin were the most abundant components and had the strongest anti-oxidative effects of this group of tannins.
authors: Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan. aalin@ms24.hinet.net
authors: C C
authors: CC
authors: Lin
authors: Y F
authors: YF
authors: Hsu
authors: T C
authors: TC
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008956:Models, Chemical; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D013634:Tannins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins; D013634:Tannins; D013481:Superoxides; C115642:punicalagin; C115643:punicalin