Stueies on Folk Medicine "Boehmeria spp." form Taiwan---The Investigation of Market Resource, and the Evaluation of Hepatoprotective、Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Activity.
Yen, Ming-Hong School of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical College
In the present study, the pharmacognostical and biological studies of Boehmeria species were made.
The investigation of market resources in Taiwan indicated only the roots of B. densiflora and B. nivea var. tenacissima were used as a medical plant.
According to the biological studies, th eresults showed that B. blinii var. podocarpa was the best plant of Boehmeria species on the activities of antioxidation、superoxide scavenger and hepatoprotection in vitro.
Furthermore, the roots of B. blinii var. podocarpa demonstrated the hepatoprotective effect against acetaminophen-induced acute liver damage in rats. The mechanisms of hepatoprotection were related to the glutathione enhancement and malondialdehyde elevation in rats liver.
Key Word :Boehmeria spp., Pharmacognosy, Hepatoprotection, Anti-lipid peroxidation, Acetaminophen, Free radical scavenger, in vitro, in vivo.
Year of 1999 / Number： CCMP88-RD-057
