Evaluation of free radical scavenging and anti-oxidative capacity of Guigan longmu Decoction

Guigan longmu Decoction(GL), take in Zhong-jing Zhang's Treatise on Exogenous of Febrile Diseases, composed of Cinnamomum cassia Presl(Guizhi), Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.(Gancao), Fossil fragments(Longgu) and Oyster shell(Muli), is a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) formula and is widely used as a clinically medication formula for its efficiency in improving sleep. But the underlying mechanisms by which it exerts therapeutic function have not been thoroughly studied. Cellular damage induced by free-radicals like reactive oxygen species has been implicated in several diseases. Hence naturally anti-oxidant play a vital role in combating these conditions. In this study, The effects of GL on free radical scavenging and anti-oxidative capacity is investigated. By free radical scavenging assays, the IC₅₀ values of GL were 46.03+/-1.26, 51.45+/-0.74 μg/ml with DPPH, ABTS assay respectively, and 0.611 mg ferrous sulfate/1 mg GL with FRAP assay. These results indicated that the antioxidant properties of GL hold great potential used as an alternative to more toxic synthetic anti-oxidants as an additive in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations for the oxidative diseases treatment.