Multiple Mechanistic Action of Brevinin-1FL Peptide against Oxidative Stress Effects in an Acute Inflammatory Model of Carrageenan-Induced Damage.

Amphibian skin is acknowledged to contain an antioxidant system composed of various gene-encoded antioxidant peptides, which exert significant effects on host defense. Nevertheless, recognition of such peptides is in its infancy so far. Here, we reported the antioxidant properties and underlying mechanism of a new antioxidant peptide, brevinin-1FL, identified from Fejervarya limnocharis frog skin. The cDNA sequence encoding brevinin-1FL was successfully cloned from the total cDNA of F. limnocharis and showed to contain 222 bp. The deduced mature peptide sequence of brevinin-1FL was FWERCSRWLLN. Functional analysis revealed that brevinin-1FL could concentration-dependently scavenge ABTS+, DPPH, NO, and hydroxyl radicals and alleviate iron oxidation. Besides, brevinin-1FL was found to show neuroprotective activity by reducing contents of MDA and ROS plus mitochondrial membrane potential, increasing endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity, and suppressing H2O2-induced death, apoptosis, and cycle arrest in PC12 cells which were associated with its regulation of AKT/MAPK/NF-κB signal pathways. Moreover, brevinin-1FL relieved paw edema, decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, MPO, and malondialdehyde (MDA), and restored catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity plus glutathione (GSH) contents in the mouse injected by carrageenan. Together, these findings indicate that brevinin-1FL as an antioxidant has potent therapeutic potential for the diseases induced by oxidative damage. Meanwhile, this study will help us further comprehend the biological functions of amphibian skin and the mechanism by which antioxidants protect cells from oxidative stress.

[Functional identification and application of horsefly as a representative form of traditional Chinese medicine].

As important traditional Chinese medicine materials, medicinal animals have been highly appreciated due to their strong bioactivities. Among these, medicinal insects have been thought to be significant, especially in preventing and treating modern diseases and tumors. Some of the most famous medicinal insects, such as horseflies, blister beetles and American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) have been well known due to their reported effects in anti-thrombosis and fighting cancer. In general, identifying the medicinal functions and active components of medicinal insects has been a gradual processes. Originally, these medicinal insects were collected from open fields and usually their whole bodies were adopted. But, currently, most medicinal insects are under large-scale artificial propagations and only their purified active components are in use. In this article, we reviewed the historical process of the application of the horsefly in traditional Chinese medicine and tried to provide useful references for the modernization of traditional Chinese medicines via discussing the interrelationship between traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine.