Antioxidant Activity in Vitro of Flavonoids in RHIZOMA CYPER

[Objective] To study the antioxidant effects of flavonoids in RHIZOMA CYPER. [Method] Taking 95% ethanol as the solvent, flavonoids were extracted from RHIZOMA CYPER by water bath reflux. Then, reduction ability and scavenging effect of RHIZOMA CYPER flavonoids on three free radicals (DPPH·, ·OH and O-2·) were researched by colorimetric method. [Result] Flavonoids in RHIZOMA CYPER had significant scavenging effects on the three free radicals; and their scavenging capabilities were in the order of DPPH· >·OH > O-2·. There were significant dose-effect relationship between the concentration and the scavenging rate. When the flavonoids concentration was 0.4 mg/ L, the scavenging rates to O-2·, DPPH· and ·OH were 25.5%, 67.0% and 28.5%, respectively. Fe3+ reducing ability enhanced as the concentration increased. [Conclusion] Flavonoids in RHIZOMA CYPER had relatively strong antioxidant activity.