Abstract

It has been well known that extended exposure to reactive oxygens causes severe damage to susceptible biomolecules. In this study, the effects of flavonoids including trifolin and kaempferol from Ginseng leaves on singlet oxygen induced photohemolysis of erythrocytes and free radical scavenging activities were investigated. Each flavonoid aglycone (5-50$\mu$M) such as kaempferol, quercetin or baicalein exhibited a high protective effect against the photohemolysis. They protected the cells by scavenging $^1O_2$ and free radicals Although the free radical scavenging activities of the flavonoid glycosides were not much lower than those of their corresponding aglycones, their insolubility into lipid bilayers of membrane made them less effective in preventing the photohemolysis induced by $^1O_2$. The $^1O_2$ and free radical scavenging activities of flavonoids were estimated by the decomposition of the flavonoid by $^1O_2$ and the bleaching of free radicals by the flavonoid, respectively. The solubilization of the flavonoid into micells or erythrocytes was deduced from spectrophotometric and microscopic observations. The cooperation of L-ascorbic acid and a flavonoid, and a possible involvement of lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase in the photohemolysis mechanism were discussed.

Keywords

• Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer;
• ginseng leaves;
• flavonoids;
• singlet oxygen;
• photohemolysis