Confirmation that magnesium lithospermate B has a hydroxyl radical-scavenging action.

Male LWH: Wistar rats were given creatinine (Cr) intraperitoneally at a dose of 1.00 g/kg body weight, and the urine was collected for 3 h after administration. Magnesium lithospermate B, a compound newly isolated from Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, was administered intraperitoneally 30 min before and 30 min after Cr administration. The excretion of urinary creatol and methylguanidine induced by Cr decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Since we have already shown that the main contributor to the Cr-->creatol oxidation step is the hydroxyl radical, magnesium lithospermate B may act as a radical scavenger.