Study on Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Persicaria tinctoria

Abstract

Objectives : Persicaria tinctoria belongs to the Polygonaceae family and it has been used as the natural dye traditionally. Also, it is well known that the Persicaria tinctoria is used for treating the following symptoms such as fever, inflammation and edema. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effective source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agent from various parts of Persicaria tinctoria. Methods : We investigated the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of the Persicaria tinctoria extracts. Antioxidant activities were measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, Fe chelating activity and Reducing power of Persicaria tinctoria extracts. And its inhibitory effect against oxidative DNA damage was evaluated in non-cellular system using φX-174 RF I plasmin DNA. The anti-inflammatory effect of Persicaria tinctoria was measured by using the inhibitory efficacy for the amount of nitric-oxide (NO) produced in LPS induced RAW264.7 cells. Results : The extracts from stem part showed better DPPH scavenging activity compared to those of the leaf and root extracts. Their IC50s were measured as 7.17, 144.40 and 165.07 ug/ml, respectively. These results were similar to that of ABTS radical scavenging assay and reducing power. Also, Persicaria tinctoria showed the protective effects of DNA damage against oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effect by suppression of NO production in LPS induced RAW264.7 cells. Conclusions : These results showed that various parts of Persicaria tinctoria can be used as an effective source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents via antioxidative activities and anti-inflammatory effect.