• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.238-244
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• 2009

Gymnosporia rothiana (walp) Lawson (celastraceae), commonly known as Maytenus rothiana, is used in Indian folk medicine as an antiulcerogenic agent. However, there have been no scientific reports regarding its antiulcer activity. Therefore, this study was intended to evaluate the antiulcer property of petroleum ether, chloroform, and methanolic extract of leaves of Gymnosporia rothiana at different dose levels in ethanol induced and indomethacin induced gastric ulcer models. It was observed that oral administration of all the extract of Gymnosporia rothiana produces significant reduction in ulcer lesion index as well as increase in volume and pH of gastric content in both experimental models, being petroleum ether extract the most effective at dose of 250 mg/kg; it significantly reduced gastric lesion index (70.06%), in comparison to omeprazole (71.20%) and methanolic extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg (67.22%). Increased gastric mucosal defense mechanism by petroleum ether extract is probably due to its high levels of terpenoids like $\beta$ amyrin, lupeol acetate. The present results clearly shows antiulcer effect of Gymnosporia rothiana against various irritants has been mainly due to cytoprotective effect mediated through prostaglandin and partly due to free radical scavenging activity.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.225-231
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• 2009

The present study deals with the amelioration by Lagerstroemia speciosa Linn. leaf extract against hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$), which was evaluated in terms of serum marker enzymes like serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, serum total bilirubin, total protein levels along with concomitant hepatic and antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation enzymes were monitored. These biochemical parameters altered by the single dose level of $CCl_4$ (0.75 ml/kg body weight, i.p). Pre treatment with L. speciosa prior to the administration of $CCl_4$, at the doses of 50 and 250 mg/kg. body weight/day, p.o. for 7 days, significantly restored all the serum and liver tissue parameters near to the normal levels, respectively. Silymarin was used as a reference standard, prior to the administration of $CCl_4$ to rats. These findings indicate the protective potential of L. speciosa against hepato toxicity which possibly involve mechanism related to its ability of selective inhibitors of (reactive oxygen species like antioxidants brought about significant inhibition of TBARS suggesting possible involvement of $O_2{\cdot}-$, $HO_2{\cdot}$, and ${\cdot}OH$. In conclusion, the amelioration may be attributed to the synergistic effects of its constituents rather than to any single factor as the leaves are rich in tannins, sterols, flavonoids, saponins etc.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 1996

Photosensitization via the singlet oxygen ($^1O_2$) mechanism by the binuclear iron-sulfur center, denoted as [2Fe-2S], was investigated, using a highly purified ferredoxin (Fd) preparation from spinach leaves. Since the apoprotein of Fd contains a good number of amino acid residues that are readily reactive with $^1O_2$ and thus interfere with the detection of $^1O_2$ generated from [2Fe-2S], we attempted to deprive the $^1O_2$-sensitive residues of their $^1O_2$-scavenging capacity as much as possible by treating Fd with rose bengal plus 550 nm monochromatic light and thereby photooxidatively degrading these residues. The photochemically modified Fd was found to keep the structural integrity of its Fe-S group virtually unaffected by the treatment. By employing chemical trap method for measurement and examining the kinetic effects of azide and deuterium oxide on the reactions of $^1O_2$ with various trap compounds, we were able to demonstrate that [2Fe-2S] indeed acts as a photosensitizer via $^1O_2$. Further, the minimum quantum yield of $^1O_2$ production by [2Fe-2S] was estimated to be 0.0047.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 2009

Abies nephrolepis(Pinaceae) extracts were tested for determined immune system regulating activity based on antiinflammatory activity, antioxidant activity and anti-proliferative effect on HeLa cell line. The A. nephrolepis extracts increased dose-dependently anti-proliferation of HeLa cell line. The DM fraction of the extracts having anti-proliferatative effects of HeLa cell line was fractionalized four subfractions($D1{\sim}D4$). Inflammation-induced NO production was inhibited by D2 and D4 in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages. And also, this fractions showed antioxidant activity examined by DPPH radical scavenging effects. These results suggest that the potential use of DM fraction of A. nephrolepis in chemoprevention and regulation overproduction of NO on pathogenic conditions. The mechanism of the inflammatory effects, however, must be evaluated through various parameters in the induction cascade of NO production.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.236-241
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of ethanol extract of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. (EAP)-reduced melanogenesis and diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb., a perennial herbaceous plant, has been used as an antihemorrhagic, anthelminntic, and antiinflammatory agents in Chinese herbal medicine. In the present study, we observed that melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity of B16F10 cells were significantly decreased by EAP. However, EAP could not suppress tyrosinase activity in the cell-free system, whereas kojic acid directly inhibited tyrosinase activity. Furthermore, EAP decreased the protein expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related prootein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related prootein 2 (TRP-2). EAP scavenged DPPH radical up to 41% with 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration. These results suggest that the hypopigmentary effect of EPA was due to regulation of tyrosinase protein.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2009

Carotenoids being most important pigments among those occurring in nature, have received increased interest owing to their beneficial effects on human health. An effort is made to review marine carotenoids as important bioactive compounds with reference to their presence, chemical, and biofunctional benefits they afford. The potential beneficial effects of marine carotenoids were particularly focused on astaxanthin and fucoxanthin, major marine carotenoids found in marine animals and aquatic plants, respectively. Both carotenoids show strong antioxidant activity which is attributed to quenching singlet oxygen and scavenging free radicals. The potential role of the carotenoids as dietary antioxidants has been suggested as being one of the main mechanism by which they afford their beneficial health effects such as anticancer activity and anti-inflammatory effect. Only recently, antiobesity effect and antidiabetic effect have been noted as specific and novel bio-functions of fucoxanthin. Nutrigenomic study reveals that fucoxanthin induces uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression in white adipose tissue (WAT) mitochondria to lead to oxidation of fatty acids and heat production in WAT. Fucoxanthin improves insulin resistance and decreases blood glucose level, at least in part, through the down-regulation of tumor necrosis factor $\alpha$ ($TNF{\alpha}$) in WAT of animals.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2013

Carotenoids are fat-soluble red-orange colored pigments found in plants and seafood-derived products, including algae, seaweeds, and fish muscle. In this study, we have demonstrated the molecular mechanism underlying the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties of ascidian tunic carotenoids using mouse macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7). Cell viability was not affected by treatment of carotenoids < 10 ${\mu}g/mL$. This treatment also showed negative inhibition on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The DPPH radical scavenging activity of carotenoids was 47.2% at 100 mg/mL. It also has a potential reducing power (1.025) comparable with ascorbic acid (1.584). The ascidian tunic carotenoids would make a candidate for the commercially interesting biologically active cosmetic pigments.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.756-761
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• 1999

Lipid peroxidation mediated by hydroxyl radicals which are generated during myocardial ischermia has suggested as a possible mechanism of ischemic myocardial damage. Recently, it has been reported that anti-arrhythmic action of lidocaine, a local anesthetic, is attributed to its "membrane-stabilizing" properties through scavenging free radicals, thus, inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Aldehyde oxidase and xanthine oxidase which catalyze the oxidation of many purine, pyrimidine and pteridine derivatives are known as free radical generating systems. In this experiment, we studied the effect of lidocaine and procainamide on the hepatic aldehyde and xanthine oxidase activity and antioxidative activities. It was found that lidocaine and procainamide inhibited both NADPH-dependent and independent lipid peroxidation. Both of tested compounds were found to be ineffective in inhibiting xanthine oxidase. Lidocaine and procainamide, however, inhibited aldehyde oxidase activity in vitro as well as in vivo. Based on the above results, lidocaine and procainamide could be employed as a therapeutic agent for aldehyde oxidaserelated disease.d disease.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1509-1517
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• 2008

The flowers and buds of Lonicera Flower (LF), are used in Korean herbal medicine for latent-heat-clearing, antipyretic, detoxicant and anti-inflammatory ailments. This plant is used worldwide for the treatment of many types of inflammatory disease including respiratory infections, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis and play an important role in immune reaction. These pharmaceutical effects of LF looks like to be related to its antioxidant capacity and phytochemicals containing in LF. In this study, the antioxidant activity of extract from LF was studied in vitro methods by measuring the antioxidant activity by TEAC, measuring the scavenging effects on reactive oxygen species (ROS) [superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical] and on reactive nitrogen species (RNS) [nitric oxide and peroxynitrite] as well as measuring the inhibitory effect on $Cu^{2+}$ induced human LDL oxidation and the inhibitory effect on collagen induced platelet aggregation. The LF extracts were found to have a potent scavenging activity, as well as an inhibitory effect on LDL oxidation and on platelet aggregation. In conclusion, the LF extracts have anti-oxidative and anti-atherosclerotic effects in vitro system, which can be used for developing pharmaceutical drug against oxidative stress and atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1323-1334
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• 2010

The effect of nitric oxide (NO) on antioxidant system and protective mechanism against oxidative stress under UV-B radiation was investigated in leaves of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings during 3 days growth period. UV-B irradiation caused a decrease of leaf biomass including leaf length, width and weight during growth. Application of NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), significantly alleviated UV-B stress induced growth suppression. NO donor permitted the survival of more green leaf tissue preventing chlorophyll content reduction and of higher quantum yield for photosystem II than in non-treated controls under UV-B stress, suggesting that NO has protective effect on chloroplast membrane in maize leaves. Flavonoids and anthocyanin, UV-B absorbing compounds, were significantly accumulated in the maize leaves upon UV-B exposure. Moreover, the increase of these compounds was intensified in the NO treated seedlings. UV-B treatment resulted in lipid peroxidation and induced accumulation of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) in maize leaves, while NO donor prevented UV-B induced increase in the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and $H_2O_2$. These results demonstrate that NO serves as antioxidant agent able to scavenge $H_2O_2$ to protect plant cells from oxidative damage. The activities of two antioxidant enzymes that scavenge reactive oxygen species, catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in maize leaves in the presence of NO donor under UV-B stress were higher than those under UV-B stress alone. Application of 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4, 4, 5, 5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3- oxide (PTIO), a specific NO scavenger, to the maize leaves arrested NO donor mediated protective effect on leaf growth, photosynthetic pigment and free radical scavenging activity. However, PTIO had little effect on maize leaves under UV-B stress compared with that of UV-B stress alone. $N^{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine (LNNA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), significantly increased $H_2O_2$ and MDA accumulation and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities in maize leaves under UV-B stress. This demonstrates that NOS inhibitor LNNA has opposite effects on oxidative resistance. From these results it is suggested that NO might act as a signal in activating active oxygen scavenging system that protects plants from oxidative stress induced by UV-B radiation and thus confer UV-B tolerance.