title: Antioxidant and pro-oxidant evaluation of a Potentilla alba L. rhizome extract.
abstract: Using spectrophotometric methods, a H(2) O-soluble Potentilla alba L. rhizome extract was evaluated phytochemically, i.e., the total phenol, flavonoid, flavonol, flavanone, and proanthocyanidin contents were determined, and its antioxidant and pro-oxidant properties, i.e., the Fe(III) reductive and the Fe(II) chelating properties, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH(*)), N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DMPD(*+)), and superoxide anion radical (O2*-)-scavenging activities, the capacity to inhibit hydroxyl radical (HO(*))-mediated deoxy-D-ribose and phospholipid degradation, and the interaction with the Cu-catalyzed HO(*) -mediated DNA degradation, were determined. The extract was found to contain a range of phenolic compounds recognized to possess strong antioxidant-like properties. Moreover, the extract demonstrated dose-dependent activities in all the antioxidant assays with the exception of the DNA-degradation assay, where the components within the extract interfered with the assay components at concentrations ≥1.00 mg/ml. Potentilla species are known for their curative properties, with aerial/subterranean parts being prescribed for numerous indications. The data presented here suggests, though does not conclude, that the rhizomes contain compounds possessing a range of antioxidant-related properties, which may underpin the therapeutic, viz., anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic effects, ascribed to species of this genus.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, FI-00014. damien.dorman@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Damien Dorman
authors.forename: Alexander N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Shikov
authors.forename: Olga N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Pozharitskaya
authors.forename: Raimo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hiltunen
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031987:Potentilla / Q000737:chemistry*; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D004247:DNA