Detailed Product Description

Chinese ant extract preparations (CAEP) are a Chinese traditional medicine which
is mainly used as a health food or drink for the treatment of rheumatism, rheumatoid
arthritis, chronic hepatitis, sexual hypofunction, and antiaging in China.
The effects on free radicals were examined by electron spin resonance spectrometry
using the spin trapping agent 5.5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide (DMPO). Superoxide
radicals (3.35 x 10(15) spins/ml) were quenched 50% by the extract at 0.5 mg/ml.
The CAEP extract at 0.7 mg/ml inhibited 50% of hydroxyl radicals (52.0 x 10(15)
spins/ml) generated by the Fenton reaction. Against DPPH radical, the scavenging
action of CAEP was observed at 1.8 mg/ml of the extract and 50% of the DPPH
radicals (8.14 x 10(15) spins/ml) were quenched. In vitro tests showed that CAEP
inhibited the production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, an index
of lipid peroxidation, in rat brain homogenate.