Protection from oxidative damage using Bidens pilosa extracts in normal human erythrocytes

Bidens pilosa (B. pilosa) is well known in Taiwan as a traditional Chinese medicine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of both the ethanol (EtOH) and ethylacetate/ethanol (EA/EtOH) extracts from the whole B. pilosa plant, to protect normal human erythrocytes against oxidative damage in vitro. It was determined that the oxidative hemolysis and lipid/protein peroxidation of erythrocytes induced by the aqueous peroxyl radical [2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)] were suppressed by both EtOH (50–150 μg/ml) and EA/EtOH (25–75 μg/ml) extracts of B. pilosa in concentration- and time-dependent manners. B. pilosa extracts also prevented the decline of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the depletion of cytosolic glutathione (GSH) and ATP in erythrocytes. These results imply that B. pilosa may have protective antioxidant properties.