Antioxidant Activities of Xiao-Yan-Hua-Jie-San and Identification of the Active Components

Abstract

Xiao-Yan-Hua-Jie-San (XYHJS), a traditional Chinese prescription, is used as a medication recipe to clinically treat inflammation and hepatitis. In previous study, we reported the hepatoprotective effects of XYHJS by increasing an antioxidant enzyme activity in mice. In the present study, the main bioactive components of XYHJS and their antioxidant activity were further investigated by using different model systems in vitro. The total phenolics content in the extract of XYHJS was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Analysis of the major phenolic compounds in the extract of XYHYS was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thin layer chromatographic (TLC) method. The total phenolic content of the extract was 2.84 ± 0.06 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g extract powder. The phenolic acid in XYHJS was found to be gallic acid (GA). The content of GA was 2.80 mg/ml by HPLC (n=5, RSD=1.26%). Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of XYHJS extract was determined by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging activity and hydroxyl free radicals (·OH) scavenging activity assay. The radical scavenging activity of XYHJS increased significantly in a concentration-dependent manner. At a concentration of 2.5 mg/ml, the DPPH and ·OH scavenging activity was 89.94% and 91.53%, respectively. It can be concluded that the content of GA in XYHJS is very high and it is the main contributor to the antioxidant activity of XYHJS. Our study indicates that XYHJS prescription could be considered to be an effective agent in the prevention of various liver diseases associated with oxidative stress.