Effects of water extract from anaerobic fermented Toona sinensis Roemor on the expression of antioxidant enzymes in the Sprague–Dawley Rats

Abstract

The gene expression levels of antioxidant-related enzymes in the Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats fed with water extracts of fermented Toona sinensis Roemor leaves (WFTS) were evaluated. The transcription and translation levels of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting, respectively. Oral administration of WFTS did not affect gene expression levels of CAT and GR of brains in SD rats. In liver tissue, WFTS, at a dosage of 1.0g WFTS/kg BW, could increase CAT, GPx and SOD mRNA expression as well as the CAT protein expression, significantly (p<0.05). WFTS increased activities of GPx, GR and CAT in liver tissues as well. The present results suggested that WFTS may boost transcription for CAT, GPx and SOD; however, SOD translation was inhibited in some way.