Antioxidant and scavenger activities of Allium ursinum

The antioxidative properties of bulb, leaf and stalk of Allium ursinum were investigated. Activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase), quantities of malonyldialdehyde, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals and reduced glutathione and also the contents of total flavonoids, chlorophylls a and b and carotenoids were determined. The extracts from all plant organs exhibited antioxidant activity, the highest having been observed in the leaves. Furthermore, ESR signal of PBN-OH radical adducts in the presence of leaves phosphate buffer (pH 7) extract was reduced for 87.61%.     

Antioxidant effects of Gongronema latifolium in hepatocytes of rat models of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

Gongronema latifolium is a rainforest plant, which has been traditionally used in the South Eastern part of Nigeria for the management of diabetes. The effects of oral administration of aqueous and ethanolic G. latifolium leaf extracts for 2 weeks on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Both extracts were shown to significantly increase the activity of superoxide dismutase and the level of reduced glutathione. The aqueous extract further increased the activity of glutathione reductase while the ethanolic extract caused a significant increase in the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that the extracts from G. latifolium leaves could exert their antidiabetic activities through their antioxidant properties.     

Hyperhydricity in apple: ultrastructural and physiological aspects

We studied the effects of hyperhydricity on subcellular ultrastructure and physiology of leaves during in vitro regeneration of apple plants. Morphological, anatomical and ultrastructural differences between healthy leaf tissues obtained from greenhouse-grown plants and healthy and hyperhydric leaves obtained from shoots raised from nodal shoot explants in a bioreactor were investigated by electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Compared with healthy leaves, hyperhydric leaves showed abnormal, often discontinuous development of the epidermis and cuticle. Stomata were malformed. The leaf lamina appeared thickened and was characterized by poor differentiation between the palisade and spongy mesophyll tissue. Hyperhydric leaves had a significantly lower chloroplast number per cell and chloroplasts showed reduced thylakoid stacking compared with healthy leaves. Hyperhydricity resulted in a general decrease in concentrations of reduced and oxidized pyridine nucleotides, reflecting a reduction in metabolic activity. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase were higher in hyperhydric leaves than in healthy leaves, indicating that hyperhydricity was associated with oxidative stress. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements provided evidence of oxidative damage to the photosynthetic machinery in hyperhydric leaves: photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, effective quantum efficiency and photochemical quenching were all lower in hyperhydric leaves compared with healthy leaves.     

Ethanol toxicity: rehabilitation of hepatic antioxidant defense system with dietary ginger

The current investigation has been conducted to investigate the influence of ginger on hepatic antioxidant enzymes system in ethanol treated rats. Ethanol significantly decreased the superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione content while an increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were estimated in the hepatic tissue. This effect was reversed by a treatment with 1% dietary ginger for 4 weeks in rats by improved antioxidant status which suggest that treatment of ginger may have protective role against the ethanol induced hepatotoxicity.     

Cytoprotective effect of piperine against benzo[a]pyrene induced lung cancer with reference to lipid peroxidation and antioxidant system in Swiss albino mice

The cytoprotective effect of piperine on benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) induced experimental lung cancer was investigated in male Swiss albino mice. Oral administration of piperine (100 mg/kg body wt.) effectively suppressed lung cancer initiated with B[a]P as revealed by the decrease in the extent of lipid peroxidation with concomitant increase in the activities of enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic antioxidant (reduced glutathione, vitamin E and vitamin C) levels when compared to lung cancer bearing animals. Our data suggest that piperine may extend its chemopreventive effect by modulating lipid peroxidation and augmenting antioxidant defense system.     

Photosynthetic response to low sink demand after fruit removal in relation to photoinhibition and photoprotection in peach trees

Diurnal variations in photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, xanthophyll cycle, antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant metabolism in leaves in response to low sink demand caused by fruit removal (-fruit) were studied in 'Zaojiubao' peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batch) trees during the final stage of rapid fruit growth. Compared with the retained fruit treatment (+fruit), the -fruit treatment resulted in a significantly lower photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, but generally higher internal CO(2) concentration, leaf-to-air vapor pressure difference and leaf temperature. The low photosynthetic rate in the -fruit trees paralleled reductions in maximal efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry and carboxylation efficiency. The midday depression in photosynthetic rate in response to low sink demand resulting from fruit removal was mainly caused by non-stomatal limitation. Fruit removal resulted in lower quantum efficiency of PSII as a result of both a decrease in the efficiency of excitation capture by open PSII reaction centers and an increase in closure of PSII reaction centers. Both xanthophyll-dependent thermal dissipation and the antioxidant system were up-regulated providing protection from photo-oxidative damage to leaves during low sink demand. Compared with the leaves of +fruit trees, leaves of -fruit trees had a larger xanthophyll cycle pool size and a higher de-epoxidation state, as well as significantly higher activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase and a higher reduction state of ascorbate and glutathione. However, the -fruit treatment resulted in higher hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde concentrations compared with the +fruit treatment, indicating photo-oxidative damage.     

Antioxidant activity of banana flavonoids

The antioxidant activity of flavonoids from banana (Musa paradisiaca) was studied in rats fed normal as well as high fat diets. Concentrations of peroxidation products namely malondialdehyde, hydroperoxides and conjugated diens were significantly decreased whereas the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were enhanced significantly. Concentrations of glutathione were also elevated in the treated animals.     

Hepatoprotective effect of Ginkgoselect Phytosome in rifampicin induced liver injury in rats: evidence of antioxidant activity

The protective effects of Ginkgoselect Phytosome((R)) (GBP) on Rifampicin (RMP) induced hepatotoxicity and the probable mechanism(s) involved in this protection were investigated in rats. Liver damage was induced in Wistar rats by administering rifampicin (500 mg/kg, p.o.) daily for 30 days. Simultaneously, GBP at 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, and the reference drug silymarin (100 mg/kg) were administered orally for 30 days/daily to RMP treated rats. Levels of marker enzymes (SGOT, SGPT and SALP), albaumin (Alb) and total proteins (TP) were assessed in serum. The effects of GBP on lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were assayed in liver homogenates to evaluate antioxidant activity. GBP (25 and 50 mg/kg) and silymarin elicited a significant hepatoprotective activity by lowering the levels of serum marker enzymes and lipid peroxidation and elevated the levels of GSH, SOD, CAT, GPX, GR, Alb and TP in a dose dependant manner. The present findings suggest that the hepatoprotective effect of GBP in RMP induced oxidative damage may be related to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity.     

Effects of mechanical damage and herbivore wounding on H_2O_2 metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activities in hybrid poplar leaves

The changes of hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activities in a hybrid poplar(Populus simonii ×P.pyramidalis ‘Opera 8277') in response to mechanical damage(MD) and herbivore wounding(HW) were investigated to determine whether H2O2 could function as the secondary messenger in the signaling of systemic resistance.Results show that H2O2 was generated in wounded leaves through MD and HW treatments and systemically in unwounded leaves around the wounded leaves.The activities of antioxida...     

Ionic homeostasis and reactive oxygen species control in leaves and xylem sap of two poplars subjected to NaCl stress

We investigated the effects of increasing soil NaCl concentration on intracellular compartmentalization of salt and on the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbic peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR)) and their role in the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS; O(2)(-*) and H(2)O(2)) in leaves and xylem sap of salt-tolerant Populus euphratica Oliv. and salt-sensitive P. popularis cv. 35-44. Mesophyll cells of P. euphratica exhibited a high capacity for NaCl exclusion and compartmentalization of salt in vacuoles compared with P. popularis. In P. popularis, the salt treatment resulted in large accumulations of Na(+) and Cl(-) in leaves that induced significant increases in O(2)(-*) and H(2)O(2) production despite marked increases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes in leaves and xylem sap. Separation of the isoforms of leaf SOD, APX and CAT by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by in-gel activity staining revealed that the salt-induced activities of APX and CAT were the result of increases in activities of all the isoenzymes. Leaf injury and shedding of aged leaves occurred following the oxidative burst in P. popularis, indicating that the increased activities of antioxidant enzymes in P. popularis were insufficient to counter the harmful effects of ROS at high soil NaCl concentrations. Unlike P. popularis plants, P. euphratica plants did not exhibit an oxidative burst in response to the NaCl treatments, because of (1) a high salt exclusion capacity and effective compartmentalization of salt in vacuoles, and (2) up-regulation of antioxidant enzymatic activities after the onset of salt stress. We conclude that P. euphratica plants subjected to saline conditions control ROS homeostasis through two pathways: (1) by maintaining cellular ionic homeostasis and thereby limiting the NaCl-induced enhancement of ROS production under long-term saline conditions; and (2) by rapidly up-regulating antioxidant defenses to prevent oxidative damage.     

菲胁迫下蒿柳抗氧化系统的响应

[目的]研究菲胁迫下活性氧和抗氧化物质的变化规律,探究蒿柳抗氧化系统的防御机制,为提高其对多环芳烃(PAHs)的抗性及加强植物修复的研究提供理论依据。[方法]以蒿柳扦插苗为试验材料,采用水培方式,研究其在0、1.0 mg·L^-1菲处理下活性氧、抗氧化酶、抗氧化剂以及丙二醛(MDA)的动态变化,处理时间为16 d。[结果]研究表明:(1)菲处理后第4天,H2O2含量和氧自由基(O2^·-)生成速率迅速增加,MDA含量升高,过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性显著上升;第8天超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性显著升高;第16天时,H2O2含量下降到与对照无显著差异,O2^·-和MDA的增加量下降。(2)还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)在处理后第4天即迅速上升,谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)呈缓慢上升趋势。(3)还原型抗坏血酸(AsA)含量在处理后第4天低于对照,但随着处理时间的延长呈上升趋势,在第16天时高于对照。[结论]菲胁迫下,O2^·-是造成细胞膜脂过氧化的主要活性氧,SOD活性一直高于对照,但不足以清除增加的O2^·-,CAT和POD的升高可以清除过量的H2O2;GSH是抵御菲胁迫的有效抗氧化剂,并通过GST的催化参与菲的解毒。     

Antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activities of total alkaloids from Catharanthus roseus in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

We evaluated the hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects of the total alkaloids of leaves and twigs of Catharanthus roseus Linn.(CTA) in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The hypoglycemic effect was measured by blood glucose and plasma insulin level. Oxidative stress was measured in heart, liver and kidney by levels of antioxidant markers, free radical scavengers and lipid peroxides i.e. superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT), glutathione(GSH) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS). Biochemical parameters, i.e. aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), alkaline phosphate(ALP) were observed in diabetic control and treated rats. Oral administration of CTA for30 days was followed by a significant(P \ 0.05) decrease in fasting blood glucose and increase in insulin level as compared with untreated diabetic rats. Also it significantly(P \ 0.05) reduced ALT, AST and ALP. The treatment also resulted in significant(P \ 0.05) reductions in GSH,SOD, CAT, and decrease in TBARS in the heart, liver and kidney of diabetic rats. The results suggest that CTA can effectively normalize the impaired antioxidant status in STZ-induced diabetes in a dose-dependent manner.CTA exerted rapid protective effects against lipid peroxidation by scavenging of free radicals and reducing the risk of diabetic complications.     

Antiperoxidative effects of lycopene during N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced gastric carcinogenesis

The effects of lycopene on blood oxidant-antioxidant balance during N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced gastric carcinogenesis in the presence of saturated sodium chloride (S-NaCl) as promoting agent were investigated. Enhanced lipid peroxidation in the blood of tumour-bearing animals was accompanied by significant decreases in the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid and vitamin E and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR). Administration of lycopene significantly lowered the concentrations of lipid peroxides and enhanced antioxidant levels. We suggest that the modulatory effects of lycopene on the blood oxidant-antioxidant balance may be responsible for its chemopreventive potential.     

Antioxidant flavonoid glycosides from Evolvulus alsinoides

Oxidative damage is an established outcome of chronic stress. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the modulatory role of ethanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides (EA) in terms of oxidative alterations at peripheral and central level in rats subjected to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). CUS exposure for 7 days reduced Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase and catalase activity with increase in glutathione peroxidase activity and lipid peroxidation, while decrease in reduced glutathione level in blood plasma, frontal cortex and hippocampus regions of brain. Oral administration of EA extract at 200 mg/kg p.o. normalized these stress induced oxidative alterations with an efficacy similar to that of melatonin. Further, EA extract was taken up for detailed chemical investigation. Two new flavonol-4′-glycoside, kaempferol 4′-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) and kaempferol 4′-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d-glucopyranoside (5) were isolated, along with eight known compounds (1, 2, 4 and 6–10). The structures of new compounds were established by detailed spectroscopic studies, while known compounds were characterized by direct comparison of their reported NMR data. All these compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant activity. Compounds 3, 5, 9 and 10 at 100 and 200 μg/ml showed significant in vitro antioxidant activity. Therefore, EA may hold great potential in preventing clinical deterioration in stress induced oxidative load and related disorders.     

Flavonoids from Punica granatum--potential antiperoxidative agents

Fractions rich in flavonoids obtained from the fruits of Punica granatum extract, orally administered to rats at dose of 10 mg kg(-1) day(-1), showed potential antiperoxidative effect. Concentrations of malondialdehyde, hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes were significantly decreased in liver while the activities of the enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase showed significant elevation. Concentrations of glutathione in the tissues were also increased.     

Anti-oxidant activity of Centella asiatica on lymphoma-bearing mice

Oral treatment with 50 mg X kg(-1) day(-1) of crude methanol extract of Centella asiatica for 14 days significantly increased the anti-oxidant enzymes, like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), and anti-oxidants like glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid decreased in lymphoma-bearing mice.     

低温胁迫对大叶女贞膜脂过氧化及保护酶活性的影响

试验选取我国北方常绿园林树木大叶女贞的当年生枝条和叶片为试材,采用人工冷冻处理,对经过不同温度处理后的叶片保护酶的活性、MDA含量和枝条及叶片细胞膜透性等指标进行测定分析。研究结果表明:随着处理温度的降低,叶片和枝条的相对电导率值呈上升趋势,在同一处理温度下,枝条的相对电导率低于其叶片的相对电导率;叶片MDA含量随处理温度的降低表现为增加的变化趋势;叶片SOD酶活性均表现为随着温度的降低呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,而POD酶活性随处理温度的降低表现为逐渐降低的变化趋势。根据各项指标测定结果对大叶女贞的抗寒性进行评价,为树种的正确选择、应用提供理论依据。     

Effects of mechanical damage and herbivore wounding on H2O2 metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activities in hybrid poplar leaves

The changes of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activities in a hybrid poplar (Populus simonii × P. pyramidalis ‘Opera 8277’) in response to mechanical damage (MD) and herbivore wounding (HW) were investigated to determine whether H₂O₂ could function as the secondary messenger in the signaling of systemic resistance. Results show that H₂O₂ was generated in wounded leaves through MD and HW treatments and systemically in unwounded leaves around the wounded leaves. The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were also enhanced. However, the H₂O₂ accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activities were inhibited in MD leaves through the pretreatment with DPI (which is a specific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase). The results of this study suggest that H₂O₂ could be systemically induced by MD and HW treatments, and H₂O₂ metabolism was closely related to the change in SOD, APX and CAT activities. A high level of antioxidant enzymes could decrease membrane lipid peroxidation levels and effectively induce plant defense responses. Foundation project: This research is supported by the Key Science Program of the Sate Forestry Administration of China (2006–59), and the National Key Project of Scientific and Technical Supporting Programs Funded by Ministry of Science & Technology of China (2006BAD01A15; 2006BAD24B04). Biography: AN Yu (1982–), female, Postgraduate in College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, P. R. China.     

Structural characterization and antioxidant activity of a low-molecular polysaccharide from Dendrobium huoshanense

The present study aimed at investigating the structural features and antioxidant activities of a polysaccharide fraction (DHP1A) obtained from Dendrobium huoshanense, a precious herb medicine in China. DHP1A mainly consisted of mannose (Man), glucose (Glc) and a trace of galactose (Gal), with a molecular weight of 6700 Da. Its backbone contained (1 → 4)-linked α-D-Glcp, (1 → 6)-linked α-D-Glcp and (1 → 4)-linked β-D-Manp, with a branch of terminal β-D-Galp. The in vitro antioxidant evaluation revealed that DHP1A had a remarkable inhibition effect on the FeCl₂-induced lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, DHP1A pretreatment decreased the production of malondialdehyde (MDA), and restored the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as the level of glutathione (GSH) in the livers of CCl₄-treated mice. These results suggested that DHP1A was a potential antioxidant component in D. huoshanense.