Scavenging capacities of pollen extracts from cistus ladaniferus on autoxidation, superoxide radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and DPPH radicals

The antioxidative abilities of pollen extracts were evaluated using lipid peroxidation model system. Ethanol-soluble fraction (ESF) was most active followed by hot-water fraction (HWF). These abilities of pollen extracts were higher than that of 5 mM ascorbic acid and were similar to that of 1 mM α-tocopherol. Superoxide-scavenging capacities were decreased in the order water-soluble fraction > HWF > ESF. ESF showed the highest hydroxyl radical scavenging ability among these samples. The pollen extracts showed DPPH radical scavenging ability. Particularly the ability of ESF gradually increased with passage of the time (about 80% to 10 min). It suggests that the extracts of the pollen are good scavengers of active oxygen species. This property of the pollen seems to be important in prevention of various diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.