Effects of <i>Rhus coriaria</i> L. (Anacardiaceae) on lipid peroxidation and free radical scavenging activity

Abstract

Abstract In order to evaluate the antioxidant potential of Rhus coriaria L. (Anacardiaceae), a well‐known spice, the methanolic extract (water‐soluble part) was prepared and investigated using free radical‐generating systems in vitro . The IC 50 value of the extract for lipid peroxidation was estimated as 1200 µg/mL in the Fe +2 ‐ascorbate system while those for superoxide‐scavenging activity in the xanthine‐xanthine oxidase method and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity in the deoxyribose decomposition method were 282.92 µg/mL and 3850 µg/mL, respectively. These data suggest that the methanolic extracts of Rhus coriaria L. fruits have considerable antioxidant activity against free radicals and lipid peroxidation in vitro , a fact that may encourage in vivo studies. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.