30. Antioxidant activities of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., in vivo and in vitro.

S. P. Ip, A. S. M. Tse, M. K. T. Poon, K. M. Ko, C. Y. Ma

We have demonstrated the presence of both in vivo and in vitro antioxidant activities in the crude water-extract of the root of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PMC), as indicated by its ability to protect against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats and to scavenge ferri-heme oxidants generated in an in vitro system. Activity-directed fractionation of the PMC indicated that the antioxidant components were contained in the ethylacetate fraction.