Antioxidant and antiviral activities of Euphorbia thymifolia L.

The antioxidant and antiviral activities of Euphorbia thymifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae) were investigated in this study. The results showed that all of the fractions (MeOH, CHCl(3), EtOAc, n-butanol and water) and pure compounds (3-O-galloyl-4,6-(S)-HHDP-D-glucose, rugosin B and 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-galloyl-K-beta-D-glucose)tested possessed antioxidant activities, with the exception of the organic aqueous fraction in the anti-lipid and anti-superoxide formation assays. The range of IC(50) of anti-lipid formation, anti-superoxide formation and free radical scavenging assays for all fractions and pure compounds were 2.81-7.63, 0.03-2.18 and 0.013-2.878 mg/ml, respectively. Electron spin resonance studies showed that water extract and pure compounds of E. thymifolia exhibited superoxide radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. Besides antioxidant activities, 3-O-galloyl-4,6-(S)-HHDP-D-glucose and EtOAc fraction also showed anti-HSV-2 activity. Thus, E. thymifolia was concluded to possess antioxidant and anti-HSV-2 activities. Copyright 2002 National Science Council, ROC and S. Karger AG, Basel