Antioxidant and Antityrosinase Activity of Flemingia macrophylla and Glycine tomentella Roots.

The antioxidant and antityrosinase activities of the water extract of Flemingia macrophylla root (WEFM) were investigated. The results showed that WEFM exhibited radical scavenging and reducing activities, as well as ferrous ion chelating property. In addition, WEFM also protected phospholipids against oxidation, indicating that WEFM could protect biomolecules from oxidative damage. Meanwhile, in the range of 50-100 µg/mL, the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of WEFM increased with an increase in sample concentration and was superior to that of the water extract of Glycine tomentella root (WEGT). A high performance liquid chromatography analysis was used to determine the phenolic components, revealing that daidzin, daidzein, genistin, and genistein were present in WEFM and WEGT. Acting as an antioxidant and a tyrosinase inhibitor, these bioactive constituents could contribute to the protective effects of WEFM. Overall, the results showed that WEFM might serve as a natural antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitor.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) Pericarp.

This study examined the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the water extract of longan pericarp (WLP). The results showed that WLP exhibited radical scavenging, reducing activity and liposome protection activity. In addition, WLP also inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophages. Further, administration of WLP, in the range of 100-400 mg/kg, showed a concentration-dependent inhibition on paw edema development following carrageenan (Carr) treatment in mice. The anti-inflammatory effects of WLP may be related to NO and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) suppression and associated with the increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase. Overall, the results showed that WLP might serve as a natural antioxidant and inflammatory inhibitor.

Protective effects of three smoke flavouring phenols on oxidative damage and nitric oxide production.

In this study, the effects of three smoke flavouring phenols, including 4-methoxyphenol (4-MP), 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol (EMP), and 4-propenyl-2-methoxyphenol (isoeugenol), on oxidative damage and nitric oxide production, were examined. In the range 5-20µM, EMP displayed the highest inhibitory effects on radical production and biomolecule oxidation in the acellular systems of the three smoke flavouring phenols. In addition, 4-MP, EMP and isoeugenol, in the range 5-20µM, protected liver cells against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced cytotoxicity, correlating with protection against intracellular glutathione depletion. Meanwhile, the inhibitory effects of the three smoke flavouring phenols on nitric oxide (NO) generation, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages, increased with increasing concentrations. The decrease in NO production was attributed to the reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in macrophages. These data suggested that the three smoke flavouring phenols, particularly EMP, show biological activities that contribute to antioxidation as well as anti-inflammation.

Comparison of protective effects between cultured Cordyceps militaris and natural Cordyceps sinensis against oxidative damage.

The Chinese herb DongChong-XiaCao originating from Cordyceps sinensis is widely used as a traditional medicine in China for treatment of a wide variety of diseases. The extracts of Cordyceps sinensis (CSE) and Cordyceps militaris (CME) are well-known for their biological effects. In the present study, the antioxidant efficiency of CME and CSE in protecting lipid, protein, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) against oxidative damage was investigated. CME and CSE showed weakly inhibitory effect on liposome oxidation, that of CME being superior to that of CSE. As for the protein oxidation model system, the inhibitory effect of CME on protein oxidation was inferior to that of CSE. CME and CSE at 1.0 mg/mL showed 50.5 and 67.1% inhibition of LDL oxidation, respectively. The contents of bioactive ingredients cordycepin and adenosine in CME are higher than those of CSE; however, both cordycepin and adenosine showed no significant antioxidant activity as determined by the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity method. Polyphenolic and flavonoid contents are 60.2 and 0.598 microg/mL in CME and 31.8 and 0.616 microg/mL in CSE, respectively, which may in part be responsible for their antioxidant activities. In addition, a polysaccharide present in CME and CSE displayed antioxidant activity, which suggested that the activity might be derived partly from polysaccharides of CME and CSE. The tendency to scavenge the ABTS(*)(+) free radical and the reducing ability of CME and CSE display concentration-dependent manners, suggesting that CME and CSE may be potent hydrogen donators. On the basis of the results obtained, the protective effects of CME and CSE against oxidative damage of biomolecules are a result of their free radical scavenging abilities.

Protective effects of five allium derived organosulfur compounds against mutation and oxidation.

In this study, we examined the ability of five allium-derived organosulfur compounds to protect cells against mutation and oxidation. The compounds tested were 1-propylmercaptan (PM), dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), diallyl disulfide (DADS), propyl disulfide (PDS), and 2,5-dimethylthiophene (DMT). Our results showed that when used at concentrations of 100-400 µmol/l, the five compounds inhibited the mutagenicity of 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide, a direct mutagen, and benzo[a]pyrene, an indirect mutagen, toward Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100. Furthermore, at these concentrations, all five of the compounds protected HepG2 cells against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative cytotoxicity. The compounds likely enhanced cell viability by suppressing the formation of reactive oxygen species and the depletion of glutathione depletion in cells. DMT and PM inhibited mutation and oxidation to a greater extent than DMDS, DADS, and PDS. These results demonstrate for the first time that DMT and PM can contribute to the antimutagenic and the antioxidative property of Allium vegetables.

Antioxidant properties of roasted coffee residues.

The antioxidant activity of roasted coffee residues was evaluated. Extraction with four solvents (water, methanol, ethanol, and n-hexane) showed that water extracts of roasted coffee residues (WERCR) produced higher yields and gave better protection for lipid peroxidation. WERCR showed a remarkable protective effect on oxidative damage of protein. In addition, WERCR showed scavenging of free radicals as well as the reducing ability and to bind ferrous ions, indicating that WERCR acts as both primary and secondary antioxidants. The HPLC analyses showed that phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid) and nonphenolic compounds [caffeine, trigonelline, nicotinic acid, and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfuraldehyde] remained in roasted coffee residues. These compounds showed a protective effect on a liposome model system. The concentrations of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds in roasted coffee residues were 8,400 and 20,400 ppm, respectively. In addition, the Maillard reaction products (MRPs) remaining in roasted coffee residues were believed to show antioxidant activity. These data indicate that roasted coffee residues have excellent potential for use as a natural antioxidant source because the antioxidant compounds remained in roasted coffee residues.

Inhibitory effect of aqueous extracts from Miracle Fruit leaves on mutation and oxidative damage.

This study investigated the inhibitory effects of aqueous extracts from Miracle Fruit leaves (AML) on mutation and oxidative damage. The results showed that AML in the range of 1-5mg/plate inhibited the mutagenicity of 2-aminoanthracene (2-AA), an indirect mutagen, and 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4-NQO), a direct mutagen toward Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100. On the other hand, AML in the range of 0.05-0.2mg/ml showed radical scavenging, reducing activities, liposome protection as well as decreased tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) induced oxidative cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis suggested that the active phenolic constituents in AML are p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, trans-p-coumaric acid and veratric acid. These active phenolic components may contribute to the biological protection effects of AML in different models. The data suggest that AML exhibiting biological activities can be applied to antimutation as well as anti-oxidative damage.

Effects of pu-erh tea on oxidative damage and nitric oxide scavenging.

The effects of pu-erh tea, which is prepared by fermentation of tea, on oxidative damage and nitric oxide scavenging, compared with various other brands of tea were investigated. The total antioxidant activity was determined using the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay. The results showed that TEAC values of the 200 microg/mL water extracts of pu-erh tea (WEPT), green tea, oolong tea, and black tea were 86.3, 85.3, 87.4, and 80.3 (microg/mL), respectively, indicating that WEPT showed a significant antioxidant activity. WEPT, like green tea extract, oolong tea extract, and black tea extract, exhibited a remarkable protective effect in lipid (liposome) and nonlipid (protein and deoxyribose) model systems, implying that it is an inhibitor of lipid and nonlipid oxidative damage. It also exhibited metal-binding ability, reducing power, and scavenging effect for free radicals. Moreover, WEPT showed a decreasing effect on nitric oxide production of lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. In addition, the results revealed that epicatechin (EC), flavonoid, ascorbic acid, and polyphenolic compounds are present in WEPT, which may partially account for the protective effect on oxidative damage. Thus, WEPT may have potential as an antioxidant and as a nitric oxide scavenging agent.

Anti-inflammatory effects of an aqueous extract of Welsh onion green leaves in mice.

The anti-inflammatory effects of an aqueous extract of Welsh onion green leaves (WOE) in mice was investigated. Administration of WOE, in the range of 0.25-1g/kg, showed a concentration dependent inhibition on paw edema development after carrageenan treatment in mice. The anti-inflammatory effects of WOE were closely attributed to decreased levels of tissue NO and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Further evidence for WOE's protection is shown in the reduction of lipid oxidation and the increase of antioxidant enzyme activities, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in vivo. Further, WOE also decreased the number of acetic acid-induced writhing responses and formalin-induced pain in the late phase in mice. Overall, the results showed that WOE might serve as a natural source of anti-inflammatory compounds.

Inhibitory effects of water extract of Flos Inulae on mutation and tyrosinase.

In this study, the effects of a water extract of Flos Inulae (WFI) on antioxidant, antimutation and antityrosinase were investigated. The results showed that WFI inhibited the mutagenicity of 2-aminoanthracene (2-AA), an indirect mutagen; and 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4-NQO), a direct mutagen toward Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100. In addition, WFI, in the range of 0.2-0.6 mg/ml, showed radical scavenging, reducing activities and chelating activity as well as decreased lipid oxidative damage. Meanwhile, WFI also inhibited tyrosinase activity and NO generation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated macrophages. High performance liquid chromatography analysis suggests that the major phenolic constituents in WFI are chlorogenic acid, rutin, quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol. These bioactive components may contribute to the protective effects of WFI. The obtained data suggests that Flos Inulae can be applied to antimutation, antityrosinase and anti-inflammation.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous extracts of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq.

This study investigated the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous extracts of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq. (STE). The results showed that STE displayed radical scavenging and reducing activity, as well as liposome protection activity. In addition, the implementation of an HPLC with a photodiode array detector helped to identify polyphenolic components including hesperidin, luteolin, and diosmetin. STE administration in the range of 125-500 mg/kg showed concentration dependent inhibition on carrageenan induced inflammatory response in mice. The anti-inflammatory effects of STE could be related to tissue NO and tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-α) suppression, and associated with the reduction of lipid peroxidation and an increase in antioxidant enzyme activities including catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in vivo. Overall, the results showed that STE might serve as a natural inhibitor of oxidation and inflammation.

Inhibitory effects of water extract from longan twigs on mutation and nitric oxide production.

This study examines the inhibitory effects of water extract from longan twigs (WLTs) on mutation and nitric oxide (NO) production. The results show that WLT inhibited the mutagenicity of 2-aminoanthracene (2-AA), an indirect mutagen, and 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4-NQO), a direct mutagen toward Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100. In addition, WLT in the range 0-0.6 mg/ml showed radical scavenging, reducing activities and chelating activity, as well as decreased lipid oxidative damage. Meanwhile, WLT also inhibited tyrosinase activity and NO generation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated macrophages. High performance liquid chromatography analysis suggests that the major phenolic constituents in WLT are epicatechin, ellagic acid and gallic acid. These bioactive components may contribute to the protective effects of WLT. Our data suggests that WLT can be applied to antimutation, anti-inflammation and antityrosinase.

Antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory activities of Xanthii Fructus extract.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Xanthii seeds commonly called Cang-Erzi were used as a traditional Chinese medicine for treating sinusitis, headache due to rheumatism and skin pruritus. AIM OF THE STUDY: In order to evaluate the actions of this plant, studies were performed on antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aqueous extract of Xanthii Fructus (AXF) was evaluated in mice for anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model. The antinociceptive activity of AXF was evaluated by writhing and formalin tests. Antioxidant properties were assayed in terms of antioxidant activity by scavenging abilities on 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), reducing activity and liposome protection. In addition, the total phenolic content was determined with spectrophotometric method. RESULTS: AXF exhibited significant radical scavenging and reducing activity. And oral treatment with AXF elicited inhibitory activity on acetic acid effect and reduced the formalin effect at the late-phase. In the anti-inflammatory test, AXF inhibited the development of paw edema induced by λ-carrageenan (Carr). AXF decreased the paw edema at the fifth hour after Carr administration, and increased the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the liver tissue and decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the edema paw. AXF decreased the level of serum nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α after Carr injection and AXF decreased the levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions in paw edema at the fifth hour. CONCLUSIONS: AXF shows antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory activities, supporting the folkloric usage of the plant to treat various inflammatory diseases.

Antioxidant and antityrosinase activity of mulberry (Morus alba L.) twigs and root bark.

The antioxidant and antityrosinase activities of the ethanolic extract of mulberry twigs (EEMT) were investigated. The results showed that EEMT exhibited radical scavenging and reducing activity, as well as ferrous ion-chelating activity. In addition, EEMT also protected phospholipids against free radicals, indicating that EEMT could protect biomolecules from oxidative damage. Meanwhile, in the range of 0-60 µg/ml, the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of EEMT increased with increase in sample concentration, and was superior to that of the ethanolic extract of mulberry root bark (EEMR). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was employed to determine the phenolic components, revealing that maclurin, rutin, isoquercitrin, resveratrol, and morin were present in EEMT. Acting as an antioxidant and a tyrosinase inhibitor, these bioactive constituents could contribute to the protective effects of EEMT. Overall, the results showed that EEMT might serve as a natural antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitor.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Cardiospermum halicacabum and its reference compounds ex vivo and in vivo.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: Cardiospermum halicacabum (CH) has been used in Chinese medicine for a long time. However, its fingerprint chromatogram, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects and mechanism are still needed to be explored. Therefore, the aims of this study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of CH extracts and its reference compounds ex vivo and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In HPLC analysis, the fingerprint chromatogram of ethanolic extract of CH (ECH) was established. The effects of ACH (aqueous extract of CH) and ECH extracts were assessed for the antioxidant and LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells. In vivo anti-inflammatory activities of ECH were evaluated in mouse paw edema induced by λ-carrageenan (Carr). We investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of ECH via studies of the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the liver and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite oxide (NO) in the edema paw. Serum NO and TNF-α were also measured. RESULTS: ECH had better antioxidant activity than that of ACH. In the anti-inflammatory test, ECH inhibited the development of paw edema induced by Carr and increased the activities of CAT, SOD and GPx in the liver tissue. ECH also decreased the level of NO in edematous paw tissue and in serum level, and diminished the level of serum TNF-α at the fifth hour after Carr injection. CONCLUSIONS: ECH exerts anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing TNF-α and NO. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of ECH might be related to the decrement of the level of MDA in the edema paw via increasing the activities of CAT, SOD and GPx in the liver. The results showed that ECH might serve as a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

Effects of selected organo-sulfur compounds on melanin formation.

The effect of organo-sulfur compounds, including 1-propylmercaptan (PM), dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), diallyl disulfide (DADS), propyl disulfide (PDS), and 2,5-dimethylthiophene (DMT), on melanin formation was investigated. Among the selected five organo-sulfur compounds, PM displayed a significant inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity (IC(50) = 0.5 mM) and the highest inhibitory action on o-quinone formation. In the B16 intracellular model system, the inhibitory action of selected five organo-sulfur compounds on tyrosinase activity and melanin formation may be, in part, attributed to the reduction of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and positive modulation of the GSH/GSSG ratio in B16 cells. Among the five organo-sulfur compounds, PM appeared to be the most potent inhibitor of melanin formation. The analysis of inhibitory kinetics revealed that PM is a mixed-type inhibitor. This is the first study indicating that organo-sulfur compounds tested may play an important role in the regulation of melanin formation, making them the potent candidates for skin-whitening agents.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of a water extract of Trachelospermum jasminoides (Apocynaceae).

AIMS OF THE STUDY: This study investigated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of a water extract of Trachelospermum jasminoides (WET) in ICR mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In HPLC analysis, the fingerprint chromatogram of WET was established. Acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin-induced pain were examined the analgesics effects of WET. WET on lambda-Carrageenan(carr)-induced paw edema was performed. We investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of WET via studies of the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GRx) in the liver and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite oxide (NO) in the edema paw. Serum NO and TNF-alpha were also measured. RESULTS: The fingerprint chromatogram of WET was established through HPLC analysis, and implies that WET contains the active ingredient gallic acid, chlorgenic acid, caffeic acid, taxifolin, isoquercitrin and quercetin. WET significantly inhibited the numbers of acetic acid-induced writhing responses and the formalin-induced pain in the late phase. In the anti-inflammatory test, WET inhibited the development of paw edema induced by carr. WET decreased the paw edema at the third, fourth and fifth hour after carr administration, and increased the activities of SOD, GPx and GRx in the liver tissue and decreased the MDA level in the edema paw at the third hour after carr injection. WET decreased the level of NO in edematous paw tissue and in serum level, and diminished the level of serum TNF-alpha at the fifth hour after carr injection. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that WET is an effective anti-inflammatory agent in carr-induced inflammation. WET probably exerts anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing TNF-alpha and NO. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of WET might be related to the decrease in the level of MDA in the edema paw via increasing the activities of SOD, GPx and GRx in the liver.