Effect of lu-duo-wei on scavenging superoxide and hydroxyl radicals in vitro.

Irradiation of a riboflavin-containing system by ultraviolet light was used to produce superoxide radical (.O2-). Hydroxyl radical (.OH) was generated by the system of Fe(II)-H2O2. Using electron spin resonance and spin trapping techniques, the effect of Lu-Duo-Wei, a capsule consisting extracts of green tea, Fructus Lycii and Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, on scavenging .O2- and .OH was observed. The results showed that the efficiency of scavenging .O2- and .OH by Lu-Duo-Wei was much higher than that by tea polyphenol alone. It is suggested that the synergistic action of tea polyphenol and other components are responsible for the scavenging effect of Lu-Duo-Wei on .O2- and .OH.

Biochemical and morphological changes in the lenses of selenium and/or vitamin E deficient rats.

The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSSG-R), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and free radicals were measured, and the morphological changes were observed in the lens of control rats, selenium-deficient (SeD) and/or vitamin E deficient (VED) rats. The activities of GSH-Px in the lens of SeD rats decreased significantly. The GSH-Px activities of lens were positively related to erythrocytes selenium level. There was a free radical at g = 2.0015 in the rat lens of all groups, but the content of free radicals in the lens of SeD group was significantly higher than that of the control group. The free radical content of lens was negatively related to erythrocytes selenium level, as well as the GSH-Px activities in the lens. In vitro, ultraviolet radiation caused the generation of another kind of free radical (g = 2.0097) in the lens of all groups, but the amount of the free radical in the lens of the SeD group was also significantly higher than that of the control group. The activities of SOD and GSSG-R in VED rat lens were significantly decreased. The amount of MDA in the lens of SeD and/or VED rats were significantly increased. The results showed that the decrease of antioxidative capability in the lenses of SeD and/or VED rats accelerated the lipid peroxidation and generation of free radicals. Although only early morphological changes in SeD and/or VED rat lens were observed, it is considered that selenium and vitamin E deficiency may be involved in the occurrence of cataract.