Abstract
Objectives : Peroxynitrite($ONOO^-$), superoxide anion(${\cdot}{O_2}^-$) and nitric oxide (NO) is a cytotoxic species that can oxidize several cellular components such as proteins, lipids and DNA. It has been implicated in the aging process and age-related disease such as Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate scavenging activities for $ONOO^-$ and its precursors, NO and ${\cdot}{O_2}^-$ of Vespae Nidus. Methods : Dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA), 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) and dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123) were used to investigate scavenging activities of $ONOO^-,\;NO,\;{\cdot}{O_2}^-$. Six-months-old ICR mice were used. After mice were injected with lipopolysaccharides(LPS), kidney organization was evaluated. Three comparison groups of ICR mice were used : a normal group, an experimental group that was fed Vespae Nidus extract and then injected with LPS, and a control group that was injected with LPS. Scavenging activities of $ONOO^-,\;NO,\;{\cdot}{O_2}^-$ in these groups were measured in the same way. Results : Vespae Nidus markedly scavenged authentic $ONOO^-,\;{\cdot}{O_2}^-$ and NO. It also inhibited $ONOO^-$ induced by ${\cdot}{O_2}^-$ and NO which are derived trom SIN-1. Furthermore, it inhibited $ONOO^-,\;{\cdot}{O_2}^-$, and NO generation by Vespae Nidus in LPS-treated ICR mouse kidney postmitochondria. Conclusions : These results suggest that Vespae Nidus might be developed as an effective $ONOO^-,\;{\cdot}{O_2}^-$, and NO scavenger for the prevention of the aging process and age-related diseases.