Antioxidative effects of enzymatic hydrolysates of Umbilicaria esculenta

Abstract

Umbilicaria esculenta is a lichen of the genus Umbilicaria that grows on rocks. It can be found in East Asia including in China, Japan, and Korea. It is edible when properly prepared and has been used as a food source and medicine. The antioxidative effects of enzymatic hydrolysates from Umbilicaria esculenta (U. esculenta) was evaluated by measuring 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and alkyl radical scavenging activities using an electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer. In addition, protection effect on H2O2-induced DNA and cell damage. In our study, U. esculenta was enzymatically hydrolyzed by seven carbohydrases and eight proteinases. Flavourzyme hydrolysates from U. esculenta showed clearly superior alkyl radical scavenging activity and yield. In addition, flavourzyme hydrolysates from U. esculenta showed protective effect on DNA damage and cell death in PC-12 cells against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in a dose dependent manner. These results indicate that enzymatic hydrolysates of U. esculenta possess potential antioxidative activity.