오공(蜈蚣)의 항산화효과에 관한 연구

Antioxidative Effects of Scolopendra subspinipes

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidative effects of the extract of Scolopendra subspinipes which has been used mainly for detoxication in the oriental medicine and reported to have sedative action, antiinflammatory effect, antihypertensive property and immunity enhancing activity. Method: Inhibitory activities on oxygen radical generating enzymes (aldehyde oxidase and xanthine oxidase) and increasing activities on oxygen radical scavenging enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase) were investigated. Furthermore, the content of glutathione in the mouse brain, DPPH radical scavenging activity and also anti-lipid peroxidative effects in vivo and in vitro were estimated. Results: The extract showed weak inhibitory effects on the activities of aldehyde oxidase and xanthine oxidase which are oxygen radical generating enzymes. The extract inhibited lipid peroxidation with 26.1% against control group at 500 mg/kg in vivo and with 11.2% against control group at 10 mg/kg in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, which means this drug may protect radical-induced cell damages. The extract showed dose-dependently the scavenging effect on DPPH radical with 24.8% activity at 10 mg/ml in vitro. The extract enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase, which are oxygen radical scavenging enzymes, with 28.9%, 22.3% and 23.1%, respectively at 500mg/kg in vivo. Finally, this extract strongly increased the glutathione content in the mouse barin. Conclusion: Above results indicated that Scolopendra subspinipes can be useful for the protection or treatment of some diseases caused by reactive oxygen species.