title: The antioxidant potential of Sutherlandia frutescens.
abstract: One of the best-known multi-purpose medicinal plants in Southern Africa, Sutherlandia frutescens subsp. microphylla (family: Fabaceae/Leguminosa), is used for a wide range of conditions, including cancer, viral diseases and inflammatory conditions. Little scientific data has been documented on the mechanism by which Sutherlandia frutescens acts on the immune system. Phagocyte derived reactive oxygen species, such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radicals, are responsible for the pathogenesis of various inflammatory conditions. Anti-inflammatory properties of various medicinal-plant extracts have been explained, at least in part, by their antioxidant activities. We investigated the effects of a hot water extract of Sutherlandia frutescens on both luminol and lucigenin enhanced chemiluminescence of neutrophils stimulated with L-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (FMLP) as well as its superoxide and hydrogen peroxide scavenging properties in a cell free system. The results indicate that Sutherlandia frutescens extract possesses superoxide as well as hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities at concentrations as low as 10 microg/ml, which could account for some of the anti-inflammatory properties that have been described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, PO Box 2034, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
authors.forename: Antonio C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: A Duncan
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Cromarty
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Constance E Jansen
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: van Rensburg
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007887:Fabaceae; D006801:Humans; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts