Figure 3.

Effects of phytochemical combinations on (A) SOD, (B) GSH-Px, and (C) CAT activities in HUVEC, Caco-2, and L-02 cells. Cells were incubated with individual flavonoid or carotenoid, or their combinations for 12 h and then treated with H₂O₂ for 1 h. Q: quercetin; L: luteolin; LY: lycopene; LU: lutein; M1: LYP:L = 1:5; M2: LYP:Q = 1:5; M3: LUT:L = 1:5; M4: LUT:L = 5:1; M5: LUT:Q = 1:1; M6: LUT:Q = 5:1. Results were presented as mean values ± SD (n = 3). Different letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) in Duncan’s test. “*” indicates the synergistic effects, representing the enzyme activity of phytochemical combinations is stronger than individual ones (p < 0.05), while “#” indicates the antagonistic effects, representing the enzyme activity of phytochemical combinations is weaker than individual ones (p < 0.05). The combinations showed stronger activity than both individuals (p < 0.05) were considered as synergistic effects, the combinations showed weaker activity than both individuals (p < 0.05) were considered as antagonistic effects, and the combinations showed no higher or weaker activity than both individuals (p > 0.05) were considered as additive effects.