Abstract: The protective action on the treatment of erythrocyte membranes with O₂^·- and scavenger action on the·OH of the hawthorn leaves tea aqueous extracts were studied in vitro.The result show,that aqueous extracts could significantly inhibit the lipid peroxidation and maintain the normal fluidity of membranes by O₂^·- generation system.The aqueous extaracts possessed significantly scavening effects on hydroxyl radical produced by Fenton reaction and inhibit the rate of·OH generation.The experimental results demanstrated that the hawthorn leaves tea aqueous extracts have a cytoprotective effect on erythrocyte membranes and scavenger action on·OH.

Key words: hawthorn leaves, hawthorn leaves tea, oxygen free radical, lipid peroxidation