Antihemolytic and antioxidant activities of Allium paradoxum

Antioxidant activity of the aerial part and bulbs of Allium paradoxum was investigated by eight in vitro assay systems. Extracts showed good antioxidant activity. IC50 for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical-scavenging activity was 890.9 +/- 43.2 and 984.9 +/- 33.5 A mu g/ml for the aerial part and bulbs, respectively. The aerial parts have better reducing power than bulb extracts but not comparable with Vitamin C (P > 0.001). Extracts showed weak Fe2+ chelating ability, the IC50 being 959 +/- 47 and 530 +/- 24 A mu g/ml for bulbs and aerial parts, respectively. Both tested extracts exhibited good hydrogen peroxide scavenging in a concentration dependent manner. They exhibited good antioxidant activity against the hemoglobin-induced linoleic acid system that was comparable with vitamin C (P > 0.01). They showed good activity against cumene hydro peroxide induced hemolysis in RBCs. In addition, they possessed antihemolytic activity. The extract from aerial parts had significantly higher total phenol and flavonoid content than did bulbs. Amounts of eight elements (Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cr) were also determined in the bulb and aerial part using atomic absorption spectroscopy. They contained higher Fe and Mn contents than other elements.