ABSTRACT
Crude extract from the pericarp of the mangosteen (mangosteen extract [ME]) has exhibited several medicinal properties in both animal models and human cell lines. Interestingly, the cytotoxic activities were always observed in nonpolar fraction of the extract whereas the potent antioxidant was often found in polar fraction. Although it has been demonstrated that the polar fraction of ME exhibited the antioxidant activity, the safety of the polar fraction of ME has never been thoroughly investigated in humans. In this study, we investigated the safety of oral administration of the polar fraction of ME in 11 healthy Thai volunteers. During a 24-week period of the study, only minor and tolerable side effects were reported; no serious side effects were documented. Blood chemistry studies also showed no liver damage or kidney dysfunction in all subjects. We also demonstrated antioxidant property of the polar fraction of ME both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, oral administration of the polar fraction of ME enhanced the antioxidant capability of red blood cells and decreased oxidative damage to proteins within red blood cells and whole blood.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/administration & dosage , Garcinia mangostana/chemistry , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Administration, Oral , Adult , Alanine Transaminase/metabolism , Antioxidants/adverse effects , Antioxidants/chemistry , Aspartate Aminotransferases/metabolism , Chromatography, Thin Layer , Dizziness/etiology , Erythrocytes/cytology , Erythrocytes/drug effects , Erythrocytes/metabolism , Exanthema/etiology , Female , Garcinia mangostana/metabolism , Humans , Liver/enzymology , Male , Middle Aged , Nausea/etiology , Oxidative Phosphorylation , Plant Extracts/adverse effects , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Young AdultABSTRACT
Thalassemic patients often exhibit high levels of oxidative stress and iron overload, which can lead to hazardous complications. Curcuminoids, extracted from the spice turmeric, are known to have antioxidant and iron-chelating properties and have been proposed as a potential upstream therapy of thalassemia. Here we have applied proteomic techniques to study the protein profile and oxidative damage in the plasma of ß-thalassemia/Hb E patients before and after treatment with curcuminoids. In this study, 10 ß-thalassemia/Hb E patients were treated with 500 mg curcuminoids daily for 12 months. The plasma protein profile and protein carbonyl content were determined at baseline, 6 and 12 months using two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis and carbonyl immunoblotting, respectively. Other hematological, clinical, and biochemical parameters were also analyzed. Twenty-six spots, identified as coagulation factors and proteins involved in iron homeostasis, showed significantly decreased intensity in thalassemic plasma, compared to those of normal subjects. Treatment with curcuminoids up-regulated the plasma levels of these proteins and reduced their oxidative damage. Serum non-transferrin bound iron, platelet factor-3 like activity, oxidative stress parameters and antioxidant enzymes were also improved after curcuminoids treatment. This study is the first proteomic study of plasma in the thalassemic state and also shows the ameliorating role of curcuminoids towards oxidative stress and iron overload in the plasma proteome.
Subject(s)
Dietary Supplements , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Plant Extracts/pharmacokinetics , Proteome/analysis , beta-Thalassemia/drug therapy , Adult , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Curcuma/chemistry , Female , Hemoglobin E , Humans , Iron Chelating Agents/chemistry , Iron Overload/drug therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Protein Carbonylation , Proteomics/methods , Transferrin/analysis , Transferrin/metabolism , Up-Regulation , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the hematological profile, oxidative stress, and antioxidant parameters in beta-thalassemia/Hb E patients treated with curcuminoids for 12 months. DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-one beta-thalassemia/Hb E patients were given 2 capsules of 250 mg each of curcuminoids (a total of 500 mg) daily for 12 months. Blood was collected every 2 months during treatment and 3 months after withdrawal and was determined for complete blood count, malonyldialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), reduced glutathione (GSH) in red blood cells (RBC), and non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI) in serum. RESULTS: The increased oxidative stress in beta-thalassemia/Hb E patients was shown by higher levels of MDA, SOD, GSH-Px in RBC, serum NTBI, and lower level of RBC GSH. Curcuminoids administration resulted in improvement of all the measured parameters as long as they were administered. After 3 months withdrawal of treatment, all parameters returned close to baseline levels. CONCLUSION: Curcuminoids may be used to ameliorate oxidative damage in patients with beta-thalassemia/Hb E disease.