Microsomal Lipid Peroxidation Research Articles

Ameliorative effect of polyphenols from Padina boergesenii against ferric nitrilotriacetate induced renal oxidative damage: With inhibition of oxidative hemolysis and in vitro free radicals.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activities of diethyl ether (DEE) and methanol (M) extracts from brown alga Padina boergesenii using in vitro and in vivo antioxidant assay, which may help to relate the antioxidant properties with the possible outline of its ameliorative effect. M extract showed higher radical scavenging activity through ferric reducing antioxidant power 139.11 µmol tannic acid equivalent/g; DPPH 71.32 ± 0.56%; deoxyribose radical 88.31 ± 0.47%, and total antioxidant activity 0.47 ± 0.02 mg ascorbic acid equivalents/g. Oxidative red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis inhibition rate was significantly higher in M extract (150 mg/kg body weight) in reference to total phenolic content (r = 0.935). Rats administered with DEE and M extracts (150 mg/kg body weight) for seven days before the administration of ferric nitrilotriacetate (9 mg of Fe/mg/kg bodyweight). Rats pretreated with extracts significantly changed the level of renal microsomal lipid peroxidation, glutathione, and antioxidant enzymes in post-mitochondrial supernatant (P < 0.05). Ameliorative effect of extracts against renal oxidative damage was evident in rat kidney through changes in necrotic and epithelial cells. HPTLC technique has identified the presence of rutin with reference to retardation factor (Rf ) in both the extracts. These findings support the source of polyphenols (rutin) from P. boergesenii had potent antioxidant activity; further work on isolation of bioactive compounds can be channeled to develop as a natural antioxidant.

In vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Arnebia benthamii (Wall ex. G. Don): a critically endangered medicinal plant of Kashmir Valley.

Arnebia benthamii is a major ingredient of the commercial drug available under the name Gaozaban, which has antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. In the present study, in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activity of different extracts of Arnebia benthamii were investigated. Antioxidant potential of plant extracts was evaluated by means of total phenolics, DPPH, reducing power, microsomal lipid peroxidation, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. The highest phenolic content (TPC) of 780 mg GAE/g was observed in ethyl acetate, while the lowest TPC of 462 mg GAE/g was achieved in aqueous extract. At concentration of 700 µg/mL, DPPH radical scavenging activity was found to be highest in ethyl acetate extract (87.99%) and lowest in aqueous extract (73%). The reducing power of extracts increased in a concentration dependent manner. We also observed its inhibition on Fe2+/ascorbic acid-induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) on rat liver microsomes in vitro. In addition, Arnebia benthamii extracts exhibited antioxidant effects on Calf thymus DNA damage induced by Fenton reaction. Cytotoxicity of the extracts (10–100 µg/mL) was tested on five human cancer cell lines (lung, prostate, leukemia, colon, and pancreatic cell lines) using the Sulphorhodamine B assay.

Enhanced antioxidant effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester and Trolox in combination against radiation induced-oxidative stress

Combinations of antioxidants are believed to be more effective than single antioxidant because when antioxidants are combined they support each other synergistically to create a magnified effect. Discovering the enhancer effects or synergies between bioactive components is valuable for resisting oxidative stress and improving health benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible cooperation of natural antioxidant caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) with synthetic antioxidant Trolox in the model systems of chemical generation of free radicals, lipid peroxidation of microsomes and radiation-induced oxidative injury in L929 cells. Based on the intermolecular interaction between CAPE and Trolox, the present study shows a synergistic effect of CAPE and Trolox in combination on elimination of three different free radicals and inhibition of lipid peroxidation initiated by three different systems. CAPE and Trolox added simultaneously to the L929 cells exerted an enhanced preventive effect on the oxidative injury induced by radiation through decreasing ROS generation, protecting plasma membrane and increasing the ratios of reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione and the expression of key antioxidant enzymes mediated by nuclear factor erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Our results showed for the first time that administration of CAPE and Trolox in combination may exert synergistic antioxidant effects, and further indicate that CAPE and Trolox combination functions mainly through scavenging ROS directly, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and promoting redox cycle of GSH mediated by Nrf2-regulated glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase expression.

Antioxidant Activities of Retinoidal Benzimidazole Or Indole Derivatives in In Vitro Model Systems

The antioxidants and antioxidant enzyme systems belong to the major protective systems of the organism. The use of retinoic acid in many animal models of carcinogenesis has also suggested that its action may depend on its antioxidant activity. Retinoids have been shown to function as effective antioxidants by inhibiting microsomal lipid peroxidation. The importance of antioxidants for the maintenance of health and for protection from oxidative stressinduced damage places them in the forefront of mechanistic approaches to genetically originated diseases related to retinoids. It is well known that cellular and subcellular membranes are susceptible to lipid oxidation because of their relatively high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids and their close proximity to oxygen, transition metals and peroxidases. Therefore, there has been a great deal of interest in the study of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are associated with arteriosclerosis, nephritis and carcinogenesis. Antioxidants scavenge and prevent the formation of free radicals so they are highly important for the treatment of these kinds of diseases. For this reason, antioxidant properties of retinoidal benzimidazole or indole derivatives have been investigated in this review.

Microsomal oxidative stress induced by NADPH is inhibited by nitrofurantoin redox biotranformation

Nitrofurantoin is used in the antibacterial therapy of the urinary tract. This therapy is associated with various adverse effects whose mechanisms remain unclear. Diverse studies show that the nitro reductive metabolism of nitrofurantoin leads to ROS generation. This reaction can be catalyzed by several reductases, including the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) reductase. Oxidative stress arising from this nitro reductive metabolism has been proposed as the mechanism underlying the adverse effects associated with nitrofurantoin. There is, however, an apparent paradox between these findings and the ability of nitrofurantoin to inhibit lipid peroxidation provoked by NADPH in rat liver microsomes. This work was aimed to show the potential contribution of different enzymatic systems to the metabolism of this drug in rat liver microsomes. Our results show that microsomal lipid peroxidation promoted by NADPH is inhibited by nitrofurantoin in a concentration-dependent manner. This suggests that the consumption of NADPH in microsomes can be competitively promoted by lipid peroxidation and nitrofurantoin metabolism. The incubation of microsomes with NADPH and nitrofurantoin generated 1-aminohidantoin. In addition, the biotransformation of a classical substrate of CYP450 oxidative system was competitively inhibited by nitrofurantoin. These results suggest that nitrofurantoin is metabolized through CYP450 system. Data are discussed in terms of the in vitro redox metabolism of nitrofurantoin.

Role of ascorbic acid in counteracting ferric nitrilotriacetate-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Context: Ascorbic acid (AA) is a naturally occurring organic compound with antioxidant properties. It is necessary for normal growth and development, and has been shown to protect against tissue toxicity and oxidative stress.Objective: The protective effect of AA against nephrotoxicity induced in albino rats by ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) was evaluated.Materials and methods: Male albino rats of Wistar strain (4–6 weeks old) weighing 125–150 g were used in this study. Animals were given a single dose of Fe-NTA (9 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneal) after a week of treatment with AA (1 and 2 mg/animal/day).Results: Fe-NTA treatment enhanced microsomal lipid peroxidation (LPO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation to 1.7- to 2.2-fold, glutathione (GSH) levels were decreased by two-fold and the activities of GSH metabolizing enzymes decreased to a range of 2.2- to 2.5-fold in renal tissue. These changes were reversed significantly in animals receiving pretreatment of AA. Treatment of rats with AA prior to the treatment with Fe-NTA decreased microsomal LPO and H2O2 generation to 124 and 172%, and also resulted in the recovery of reduced levels of GSH, GSH-metabolizing enzymes to almost 92% at the higher dose level of AA.Discussion and conclusion: AA protects against Fe-NTA-induced nephrotoxicity and renal damage. AA has a beneficial impact on Fe-NTA-induced toxicity due to its scavenging and antioxidant effect in albino rats.

Aromatic Glucosides from the Seeds of Prunus davidiana

Chemical investigation of the seeds of Prunus davidiana afforded seven new aromatic glucosides, i.e., the prupersins A-E (1-5) and compounds 6 and 7, as well as 11 known compounds. The structures of 1-7 were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis and chemical evidence, and configurations were determined by hydrolysis experiments (1, 2, and 5) or electronic circular dichroism (6). Compounds 1-6 exhibited antioxidant activity aganist Fe²⁺-cysteine-induced rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation, with malondialdehyde inhibitory rates of 50-67% and 53-57% at concentrations of 10⁻⁵ and 10⁻⁶ mol/L, respectively.

Synthesis and antioxidant activity of novel Mannich base of 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives possessing 1,4-benzodioxan

A new series of Mannich base of 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives possessing 1,4-benzodioxan (6a–6ae) were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, ESI-MS and elemental analysis. The structure of 6b was further confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. All these novel compounds were screened for their in vitro antioxidant activity employing 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) cationic radical (ABTS+) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) scavenging assays. Due to the combination of 1,4-benzodioxan, 1,3,4-oxadiazoles and substituted phenyl ring, most of them exhibited nice antioxidant activities. In all of these three assays mentioned above, compounds 6f and 6e showed significant radical scavenging ability comparable to the commonly used antioxidants, BHT and Trolox. Seven compounds with representative substituents or activities were selected for further assays in chemical simulation biological systems—inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protection against 2,2′-azobis (2-amidinopropane hydrochloride) (AAPH) induced DNA strand breakage, in which, 6f and 6e were demonstrated to be of the most potent antioxidant activities.

Ascorbic acid inhibits ferric nitrilotriacetate induction of ornithine decarboxylase, DNA synthesis, oxidative stress, and hepatotoxicity in rats

Ascorbic acid (AA) is a naturally occurring phenolic compound with antioxidant properties used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. In this study, the effect of AA on ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats has been examined. Fe-NTA alone enhances ornithine decarboxylase activity to 4.5-fold and tritiated thymidine incorporation in DNA to 3.6-fold in livers compared with the corresponding saline-treated controls. The enhanced ornithine decarboxylase activity and DNA synthesis showed a reduction to 3.02- and 1.88-fold, respectively, at a higher dose of 2 mg AA per day per animal, compared with the Fe-NTA-treated groups. Fe-NTA treatment also enhanced the hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation to 1.7-fold compared to saline-treated controls. These changes were reversed significantly in animals receiving pretreatment of AA. The present data shows that AA can reciprocate the toxic effects of Fe-NTA and can serve as a potent chemopreventive agent to suppress oxidant-induced tissue injury and hepatotoxicity in rats.

The Potential Use of Microalgal Carotenoids as Dietary Supplements and Natural Preservative Ingredients

Dunaliella salina has been selected as the most valuable microalgae for production of carotenoids as a source of natural pigment when grown under defined conditions. Compared with optimal conditions, D. salina contained higher amounts of total carotenoids (TCAR, 12.6%, dw)—including β-carotene (60.4%, of total carotenoids), astaxanthin (17.7%), zeaxanthin (13.4%), lutein (4.6%), and cryptoxanthin (3.9%)—when grown under stress conditions. These TCAR showed greater in vitro antioxidant potential by inhibition of lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes induced by Fe++/ascorbate and Fe++/H2O2 model systems than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The toxicological evaluation of D. salina functional ingredients as an antioxidant and natural food colorant was conducted, in which male albino rats were fed ad libitum for 6 weeks with one of the following diets: standard diet (S), S diets containing 0.5 g trans β-carotene/kg diets (S + 0.5 β C), S + 0.5 g D. salina carotenoids/kg diets (S + 0.5 DC), and S + 1.0 g D. salina carotenoids/kg diets (S + 1.0 DC). Generally, no mortality or treatment-related toxicological signs were observed in any of the rats during the 6 weeks of the experiment. The concentrations of glucose and glycogen in liver and glucose, total proteins, bilirubin, and creatinine as well as enzymes activities of aspartate (AST) and alanine aminotransferases (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in plasma were not significantly different from each other in all four diets. In contrast, the levels of total lipids and lipids components showed significant differences in all groups. Groups S + 0.5 βC, S + 0.5 DC, and S + 1.0 DC showed a significant decrease in concentrations of total lipids, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and phospholipids in either plasma or hepatic tissues compared with S group. The results showed that D. salina carotenoids could be potentially rich sources of natural antioxidants and food colorants and have hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic properties.

Sesquiterpenes and Alkaloids from the Roots of Alangium chinense

Four new sesquiterpenes (1-4), four new alkaloids (5a, 6a, 6b, and 7), and nine known compounds (5b and 8-15) were isolated from an ethanolic extract of roots of Alangium chinense. The structure of 1 was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The configurations of 5 and 6 were assigned by chiral HPLC analysis and CD spectra. Compounds 3, 4, 8-13, and 15 exhibited antiviral activity against Coxsackie virus B3 with IC50 values of 1.4-15.4 μM. Compounds 2-4, 7, and 9-13 showed antioxidant activities against Fe(2+)-cysteine-induced rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation, with IC50 values of 3.8-45.7 μM. Compound 5b displayed neuritis inhibitory activity against microglial inflammation factor, with an IC50 value of 6.7 μM. None of the compounds exhibited detectable cytotoxic activity toward any of five tumor cell lines (A549, Be-17402, BGC-823, HCT-8, and A2780) in the MTT assay.

Antimutagenic and antioxidant activity of Ficus benghalensis stem bark and Moringa oleifera root extract

Objective: To investigate antimutagenic and antioxidant potency of the aqueous heat treated Ficus benghalensis stem bark (FBH) extract and Moringa oleifera root (MRH) extract against sodium azide in TA100 tester strains of Salmonella typhimurium and their inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation (LPO). Methods: Mutagenicity was assayed by the standard Ames test (standard plate incorporation assay) and antioxidant potency was investigated by employing ex vivo inhibition of lipid peroxidation in liver Microsomes. Results: Both FBH and MRH showed strong antimutagenic effect on S. typhimurium TA100 strains against sodium azide (NaN3). IC50 values of aqueous extract of FBH and MRH extracts were 70.24 mg/ml and 99.20 mg/ml respectively. FBH extract showed maximum inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation responses than MRH. IC50 values of aqueous extract of FBH and MRH extracts were 80.24 mg/ml and 92 mg/ml respectively. FBH and MRH exhibited a dose dependent antioxidant activity. Conclusion: The aqueous heat-treated FBH and MRH have antimutagenic as well as antioxidant activity. Further studies are in progress to evaluate the effect of both extracts by other antioxidant and antimutagenic assays and to identify the factors responsible for these activities.

Antioxidant effect of butylated hydroxytoluene on ferric nitrilotriacetate induced renal hyper proliferation and injury in rats

This study was designed to investigate the effect of butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), a phenolic antioxidant used in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, on Fe-NTA-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Fe-NTA (alone) treatment enhances ornithine decarboxylase activity to 5.3-fold, and [(3)H] thymidine incorporation in DNA to 3.5-fold compared with the corresponding saline treated control. The enhanced ornithine decarboxylase activity and DNA synthesis showed a reduction to 2.12-2.15-fold respectively at a higher dose of 2 mg BHT/day/animal, compared with the Fe-NTA treated group. Fe-NTA treatment also enhanced the renal microsomal lipid peroxidation to 2.0-fold and decreased the activities of glutathione and antioxidant enzymes to a range of 2.2-2.5-fold in kidney. These changes were reversed significantly in animals receiving a pretreatment of BHT. Present data suggests that BHT can prevent the toxic effects of Fe-NTA and can serve as a potent chemopreventive agent to suppress oxidant-induced tissue injury and nephrotoxicity in rats.

Butylated hydroxyanisole alleviates ferric nitrilotriacetate induced nephrotoxicity in rats by abrogation of oxidative stress

In this study the effect of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a phenolic antioxidantused in food on Ferric‐Nitrilotriacetate (Fe–NTA) induced nephrotoxicity is reported. Fe‐NTA (9 mg Fe/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) treatment enhanced the renal microsomal lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide generation to ~2‐2.5 folds compared to saline‐treated control and glutathione levels and the activities of antioxidant enzymes decreased to a range of 2–2.5 fold in kidney. These changes were reversed significantly in animals receiving a pretreatment of BHA. Pretreatment with BHA prior to Fe‐ NTA treatment reduced microsomal lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide generation to 1.3‐1.5 fold compared to control group and glutathione and the activities of antioxidant enzymes increased to a range of 1.5‐2 folds in kidney. Fe‐NTA administration enhanced value of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine to 3.7 and 2.5 fold respectively as compared to their corresponding control group. Administration of Fe‐NTA to rats receiving a pretreatment of BHA led to a significant diminution in both of these values. The results indicate that BHA is a potent chemopreventive agent and suppresses Fe‐NTA induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of six flavonoids separated from licorice

Licorice, the roots and rhizomes of several Glycyrrhiza species (Leguminosae), is an important natural sweetening agent and a widely used herbal medicine. In this work, six flavonoids, 5-(1,1-dimethylallyl)-3,4,4′-trihydroxy-2-methoxychalcone (1), licochalcone B (2), licochalcone A (3), echinatin (4), glycycoumarin (5) and glyurallin B (6), were isolated from the extracts of licorice (Glycyrrhiza inflata and Glycyrrhiza uralensis). Their structures were elucidated using various spectroscopic methods. To our knowledge, compound 1 was isolated from natural plants for the first time. All the isolates were tested by antioxidant and anti-inflammatory assays. Compounds 2, 4 and 5 showed strong scavenging activity toward the ABTS+ radical, and compounds 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 exhibited potent inhibition of lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes compared with the reference controls. Compounds 1–4 dose-dependently inhibited LPS induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, compounds 1–5 were demonstrated to inhibit the production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in LPS-induced macrophage cells. Moreover, the contents of the six compounds, in different Glycyrrhiza species, were quantified by HPLC–MS.

Effects of Perilla frutescens Extract on Cytochrome P450 Expression in Oxidative Stress‐induced Liver

We have previously reported protective effect of Perilla frutescens extract (PLE) against tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (t‐BHP)‐induced liver oxidative damage in rats. t‐BHP induces lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes and it is reported that t‐BHP can be metabolized to free radical intermediates by cytochrome P450 (CYP), which can subsequently initiate lipid peroxidation. We speculate that lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes was induced by t‐BHP is closely linked with the oxidative metabolism mediated by CYP1A1/2 and CYP 3A/2E1. We examined the effect of the PLE on CYP activities including Ethoxyresorufin‐O‐deethylase (EROD, CYP1A1), Methoxyresorufin‐O‐deethylase (MROD, CYP1A2), Erythromycin‐N‐demethylase (ERDM, CYP3A) and p‐nitrophenol hydroxylase (PNPH, CYP2E1) under oxidative stress in rat liver. The pretreatment of rats with PLE (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.w.) for 5 days before a single dose of t‐BHP (i.p.; 0.5 mmol/kg), PLE was found to be a potent inhibitory effect CYP 1A1/2 of oxidative stress‐induced liver microsomes. Kinetic analysis of CYP 1A1/2 activity of t‐BHP‐induced microsomes demonstrated that PLE inhibited enzyme activities by competitive or noncompetitive mechanism. These data suggest that selective control of CYP by PLE might contribute to protective effect of liver through inhibitory CYP activities against oxidative stress in rat liver.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

Human and animal studies have shown that some drugs and chemical agents have potential hepatotoxic effects. The hepatotoxic effect of drugs and some chemical agents is reported to be associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS are reported to be associated with lipid peroxidation in the liver. This mechanism has led to continuous evaluation of the hepatoprotective effect of antioxidants in humans and animals. Among the antioxidants been evaluated is vitamin C which is a water soluble antioxidant. Reports have linked vitamin C with hepatoprotective property in animals and humans. It synergistic hepatoprotective effect with other antioxidants was also reported. Due to these reports a comprehensive literature review on the hepatoprotective property of vitamin C in humans and animals was performed. It was observed that vitamin C exhibited a reputable hepatoprotective effect in humans and animals. Research showed that vitamin C inhibited hepatotoxicity induced by drugs, heavy metals, organophosphate insecticides and some chemical agents. Vitamin C was reported to normalized levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamine, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and malondialdehyde and serum bilirubin in intoxicated animals. It potentiates the activities of free radical scavengers, superoxide dimutase, and catalase glutathione peroxidase thereby preventing microsomal lipid peroxidation, liver fibrosis, liver necrosis and hepatic inflammation. In humans vitamin C was reported to be beneficial in non alcoholic steatohepatitis and in patients with fatty liver disease. Hepatoprotective property of vitamin C is attributed to it antioxidant property. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) which is a major water-soluble antioxidant is believed to decrease lipid peroxidation either directly or indirectly by regenerating vitamin E. Vitamin C is an important free radical scavenger in extracellular fluids, trapping radicals and protecting biomembranes from peroxide damage. Vitamin C effectively scavenges singlet oxygen, superoxide, hydroxyl, water soluble peroxyl radical and hypochlorous acid. It is also reported to be an excellent source of electrons and therefore can donate electrons to free radicals such as hydroxyl and super oxide radicals and quench their activity. Vitamin C is an essential co-factor involved in many biochemical functions and acts as an electron donor or reducing agent. In this review it is observe that vitamin C has hepatoprotective effect which increases when co administered with other agents precisely antioxidants.

Bioactivity of Nonedible Parts of Punica granatum L.: A Potential Source of Functional Ingredients.

Punica granatum L. has a long standing culinary and medicinal traditional use in Mauritius. This prompted a comparative study to determine the bioefficacy of the flower, peel, leaf, stem, and seed extracts of the Mauritian P. granatum. The flower and peel extracts resulting from organic solvent extraction exhibited strong antioxidant activities which correlated with the high levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins. The peel extract had the most potent scavenging capacity reflected by high Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity value (5206.01 ± 578.48 μmol/g air dry weight), very low IC50 values for hypochlorous acid (0.004 ± 0.001 mg air dry weight/mL), and hydroxyl radicals scavenging (0.111 ± 0.001 mg air dry weight/mL). Peel extracts also significantly inhibited S. mutans (P < 0.001), S. mitis (P < 0.001), and L. acidophilus (P < 0.05) growth compared to ciprofloxacin. The flower extract exhibited high ferric reducing, nitric oxide scavenging, and iron (II) ions chelation and significantly inhibited microsomal lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, it showed a dose-dependent inhibition of xanthine oxidase with an IC50 value of 0.058 ± 0.011 mg air dry weight/mL. This study showed that nonedible parts of cultivated pomegranates, that are generally discarded, are bioactive in multiassay systems thereby suggesting their potential use as natural prophylactics and in food applications.

Attenuation of KBrO3‐Induced Renal and Hepatic Toxicity By Cloudy Apple Juice In Rat

The aim of the study was to evaluate a protective effect of apple juice on KBrO3-induced oxidative stress in rats. Male Wistar rats were administered apple juice per os, 10 ml/kg b.w. for 28 days. On 27 day of the experiment, some rats were given i.p. a single 125 mg/kg b.w. dose of KBrO3 . Markers of oxidative damage and clinical chemistry parameters were determined. Treatment with apple juice prior to KBrO3 challenge prevented an increase in hepatic and renal microsomal lipid peroxidation by 25 and 44%, respectively, increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the liver by 29 - 59% and decreased the plasma content of carbonyl groups by 19%. Aminotransferases activity in plasma was reduced by 19% and 36%, concentrations of plasma bilirubin, cholesterol and creatinine were suppressed by 21%, 16% and 26%, respectively, in rats supplemented with juice before KBrO3 injection. No protective effect of apple juice on nuclear DNA was observed. Supplementation with cloudy apple juice to some extent attenuated oxidative damage induced by KBrO3 in the liver and kidney of rats as evidenced by alterations of certain oxidative stress markers and clinical chemistry parameters.

Sesquiterpenes and neolignans from the roots of Illicium dunnianum

Two new sesquiterpenes, dunnianoside I (1) and 8′-oxo-6-hydroxy-dihydrophaseic acid methyl ester (2), a new glycoside, dunnianoside J (3), two new neolignans, dunnianeolignans A–B (4, 5), together with 10 known compounds (6–15), were isolated from the roots of Illicium dunnianum. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and chemical methods. Compounds 7, 8, and 13–15 exhibited potent antioxidant activities against Fe2+-cystine-induced rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation, with IC50 values ranging from 4.2 ± 0.4 to 38.4 ± 2.6 μM.