title: Evaluation of antioxidant activity of some common mosses.
abstract: The antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts of Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichum formosum (Polytrichaceae), Pleurozium schreberi (Entodontaceae) and Thuidium tamariscinum (Thuidiaceae) was evaluated by an electrochemical method (cyclic voltammetry) and standard photometric methods: Fe(III) to Fe(II) reducing power, nitric oxide scavenging (NO) assay and simulation of Fenton-type reaction by nonsite-specific (NSSOH) and site-specific (SSOH) hydroxyl radical-mediated 2-deoxy-D-ribose degradation inhibition. The total content of phenols was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteau reagent. All tested species showed antioxidant effects lower than the positive control, caffeic acid. The extracts of A. undulatum and P. formosum contained the highest content of phenols and were the most effective in Fe(III) to Fe(II) reducing power, cyclic voltammetry and SSOH assay. By contrast, only the extract of Pl. schreberi showed activity in the NSSOH assay. A. undulatum and T. tamariscinum extracts were the most active in the NO assay. The results suggest that the extracts of A. undulatum and P. formosum possess stronger antioxidant activity than those of Pl. scheberi and T. tamariscinum, but they affect the Fenton-type reaction mainly by iron chelation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Ecology and Ecosystem Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. vladimir.chobot@univie.ac.at
authors.forename: Vladimír
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chobot
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kubicová
authors.forename: Samar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nabbout
authors.forename: Ludek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jahodár
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hadacek
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000737:chemistry; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical