Antioxidant property of a Thai traditional formula for longevity

Antioxidant properties of a Thai traditional formula for longevity, which is composed of 6 herbs as follows: Albizia procera, Diospyros rhodocalyx, Tinospora crispa, Cyperus rotundus, Streblus asper and Piper nigrum were studied. Each herb including the formula was extracted by 95% ethanol and concentrated by using vacuum evaporator. The antioxidant properties were detected by DPPH method. Vitamin C and Trolox were used as reference standard. The in vitro oxidative hemolysis of sheep red blood cells was used as a model to study the free radical-induced damage of biological membranes by AAPH. From DPPH method, Albizia procera extract possessed the most potent antioxidant properties (IC₅₀ 44.34µg/ml) while vitamin C and Trolox had IC₅₀ at 17.47µg/ml and 22.75µg/ml, respectively. From AAPH hemolysis method, Albizia procera, the formula for longevity, Cyperus rotundus, Diospyros rhodocalyx, Piper nigrum, Tinospora crispa and Streblus asper extracts at the concentration of 5mg/ml could prolong the time of 50% hemolysis from 78 minutes to 157, 142, 126,114, 108, 101, 100 minutes, respectively, while the time of 50% hemolysis of trolox at the concentration of 0.5mg/ml was 160 minutes. The phytochemical screening tests showed the presence of phenolic compounds, tannins and flavonoids in the formula and Cyperus rotundus, Albizia procera; phenolic compounds and flavonoid in Piper nigrum, Diospyros rhodocalyx and Streblus asper. Phenolic compounds were found in Tinospora crispa extract.