title: Antioxidant activity of the flavonoid hesperidin in chemical and biological systems.
abstract: The antioxidant hesperidin, a major flavonoid in sweet orange and lemon, was evaluated using chemical and biological systems. The chemical assay evaluates the hesperidin capacity to sequester 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*). Biological studies were done using the eukaryotic cells of superoxide-dismutase proficient and deficient strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae treated with hesperidin and the stressing agents hydrogen peroxide or paraquat (methylviologen; 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride). Hesperidin was able to reduce significantly the level of the free radical DPPH* with similar efficacy of trolox (positive control). When the yeast cells were exposed to the flavonoid hesperidin before the stressing agents, there was a significant increase in the survival of all strains. Paraquat induced higher catalase and superoxide dismutase than did hydrogen peroxide, which only increased catalase activity. Previous addition of hesperidin to these treatments was able to reduce significantly both enzymatic levels. These observations clearly demonstrate that hesperidin provides strong cellular antioxidant protection against the damaging effects induced by paraquat and peroxide hydrogen.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia Kelly
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Wilmsen
authors.forename: Dalla Santa
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Spada
authors.forename: Mirian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvador
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D006569:Hesperidin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D010851:Picrates; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D006569:Hesperidin; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010269:Paraquat