Lycium barbarum, a famous Chinese medicinal herb, has a long history of use as a traditional remedy for many diseases. Polysaccharides are
the most important functional constituent in
Lycium barbarum fruits. In the present study, the antioxidant activity of polysaccharides extracted from
Lycium barbarum fruits growing in Xin Jiang, a northwest province of China, was evaluated. Six established
in vitro methods, including superoxide radical (O
2
-) scavenging activity, reducing power, β-carotene linoleate model, inhibition of mice erythrocyte hemolysis mediated by peroxyl
free radicals, 1,1- diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging, and metal chelating activity were used in our evaluation.
The polysaccharides showed considerable inhibitory activity in the β-carotene–linoleate model system in a concentration-dependent
manner. Further, they exhibited moderate concentration-dependent inhibition of the DPPH radical. The multiple antioxidant
activity of the polysaccharides was evidenced by significant reducing power, superoxide scavenging ability, inhibition of
mice erythrocyte hemolysis mediated by peroxyl free radicals, and also ferrous ion chelating potency. The data obtained in
the
in vitro models clearly establish the antioxidant potency of the polysaccharides extracted from
Lyceum barbarum fruits.
Keywords DPPH radical -
In vitro
-
Lycium barbarum
- Polysaccharides - Reducing power - Scavenging activity