[Antioxidant effect of berbamine]

The antiperoxidant action of berbamine (Ber) was demonstrated by colorimetric estimation of malondialdehyde (MDA) formation, and the scavenging effect of Ber on O2- was investigated by chemiluminescence method and ESR-spin trapping technique. Ber 11-100 mumol/L remarkably inhibited MDA formation induced by incubating mice liver homogenate at 37 degrees C with vibration for 1 h. Ber 1-100 mumol/L and 0.2-0.6 mmol/L effectively scavenged O2- in alkaline DMSO and xanthine/xanthine oxidase systems respectively. The results show that Ber is an antioxidant.