Abstract: Oxygen radical scavenging activity of banana was studied in vitro, and lipid peroxides of plasma lipoproteins were investigated after 20 healthy subjects took fresh bananas. Banana exhibited scavenging effects on ROO•, O2- •,•OH, and H2O2 in vitro with the scavenging rates of 81. 8%, 54. 5%, 72. 1% and 68. 8%, respectively; and significantly decreased lipid peroxides of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) inhuman. It is suggested that banana could increase the plasma antioxidant capacity in human, and might have the function of preventing cardiovascular diseases nad delaying ageing.

Key words: Banana , Radical scavenging , Lipid peroxidation , Lipoproteins