EFFECTS OF SHILAJIT ON BIOGENIC FREE-RADICALS

The radicophilicity (antiradical-antioxidant effects) of processed shilajit (SJP) to oxygen derived free radicals and nitric oxide (NO), and the attendant HP, cleaving effect were evaluated. SJP provided complete protection to methyl methacrylate (MMA) against hydroxyl radical-induced polymerization and acted as a reversible NO-captodative agent, SJP (20 and 50 mg/kg/day, i.p., for 21 days) induced a dose-related increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities in frontal cortex and striatum of rats, The data were comparable to those of (-)-deprenyl (2 mg/kg/day, i.p., for 21 days) in respect of SOD and CAT activities, These findings are consistent with the therapeutic uses of shilajit as an Ayurvedic rasayan (rejuvenator) against oxidative stress and geriatric complaints.