The Antioxidative, Anti-inflammatory, and Liver-Protective Effects of Mycelia Selenium Polysaccharides from the Deep Root Mushroom, Oudemansiella radicata (Agaricomycetes).

In the present work, the mycelia polysaccharides (MPS) and mycelia selenium polysaccharides (MSPS) were obtained from Oudemansiella radicata. Their antioxidative, antiinflammatory, and hepatic-protective effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced liver damage in mice were investigated. The results showed that MSPS had potential effects on relieving liver injury by monitoring the serum levels of hypersensitive C-reactive protein, complement 3, and serum enzyme activities (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase), enhancing the antioxidant enzymes abilities (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity), and decreasing the lipid peroxidation (lipid peroxidation and malondialdehyde). Furthermore, the in vitro scavenging results indicated that the inhibition effects of MSPS on hydroxyl radicals and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals reached 63.00 ± 3.59% and 68.86 ± 3.97%, respectively, at 1000 mg/L. These conclusions demonstrated that both MPS and MSPS might be suitable for functional foods and natural drugs for preventing acute liver damage.

Uric acid but not apple polyphenols is responsible for the rise of plasma antioxidant activity after apple juice consumption in healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether (1) rapid consumption of 1 L of apple juice increases blood antioxidant capacity, measured as ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and serum 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, and (2) apple polyphenols or fructose-induced elevation of plasma uric acid contributes to post-juice increase of blood antioxidant activity. METHODS: The study involved 12 (mean age 32 ± 5 years, mean body weight 73 ± 7 kg) healthy nonsmoking subjects. Tested subjects consumed 1 L of clear apple juice and then FRAP; serum DPPH-scavenging activity, serum uric acid, and total plasma phenolics and quercetin levels were measured just before juice ingestion and 1, 2.5, and 4 hours after ingestion. This was repeated 3 times with 4-day intervals, but volunteers drank either 1 L of clear apple juice without polyphenols (placebo), or 1 L of cloudy apple juice (positive control), or 1 L of water (negative control) at the time. All juices had similar content of sugars (i.e., saccharose, glucose, and fructose) and precisely defined composition of phenolics and antioxidant activity. RESULTS: Consumption of all 3 juices transiently increased FRAP and serum DPPH-scavenging activity, with peak values at 1 hour post-juice ingestion. This was paralleled by the rise of serum uric acid, but no significant changes in plasma total phenolics and quercetin levels were observed after all dietary interventions. At the same time, no substantial differences were found between juices (especially between clear apple juice and clear apple juice without polyphenols) concerning the measured variables. A strong significant correlation was noted instead between serum uric acid and plasma antioxidant activity at all analyzed time points, before and after juice ingestion. Plasma total phenolics and quercetin levels were not associated with FRAP and serum DPPH radical-scavenging activity. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that rapid consumption of apple juice increased plasma antioxidant activity in healthy subjects; this was caused by the fructose-induced rise of serum uric acid levels, but was not due to the presence of antioxidant polyphenols in juice. Thus, short-term consumption of apple juice seems not to be the effective dietary intervention to augment plasma antioxidant activity due to the concomitant possibility for uric acid to be a risk factor for several diseases, as verified by other authors.

Simple method for determining human serum 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity - possible application in clinical studies on dietary antioxidants.

BACKGROUND: 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical decomposition in alcohol solution is widely used, characterizing plant antioxidants that can rise in serum after fruit and vegetable intake. However, this test failed reproducible results with serum due to protein precipitation. We describe the application of serum deproteinization with acetonitrile relating to the DPPH test. METHODS: Assay sensitivity, linearity, repeatability and storage effect were determined in serum samples deproteinized with an equal volume of acetonitrile. Associations between the DPPH test and the ferric reducing ability of serum (FRAP) method, measuring total antioxidant potential, were evaluated in sera from 78 healthy non-smoking men. The effect of a single ingestion of 1 L of cloudy apple juice on the serum DPPH radical scavenging activity in healthy volunteers was also investigated. RESULTS: Assay linearity was within 5-25 microL (r=0.99, p<0.01). With 25 microL-deproteinized serum, coefficient of variation was 4.2% and detection limit was 0.5% of the initial amount of decomposed DPPH radical over 30 min incubation. There was no sera activity decrease over 14 days storage at -20 degrees C. Mean values of DPPH radical scavenging activity and FRAP obtained in human serum were 11.2+/-3.3% and 382.0+/-88.1 micromol/L, respectively. A positive significant linear correlation was observed between these two methods (r=0.42, p<0.01). Serum supplementation with 50 micromol/L of catechin, gallic acid, ascorbic acid or uric acid enhanced DPPH test results. One brisk serving of 1 L of apple juice caused a significant increment of serum DPPH radical scavenging activity (1.9+/-1.9%, p<0.01) in 12 healthy subjects 1 h after juice ingestion. CONCLUSIONS: Applicability of the DPPH test to deproteinized serum with acetonitrile revealed numerous advantages, validating its practicability, simplicity and cost effectiveness as a tool in the estimation of antioxidant status in humans.

Changes of materials that scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals in plasma by per-oral administration of Kampo medicine, Ninjin-yoei-to in rats.

The Kampo medicine, Ninjin-yoei-to, scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals in a dose-dependent fashion as did ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol. Ninjin-yoei-to, which is composed of 12 herbs, had a potent DPPH radical scavenging ability. We investigated the transition of the materials that scavenge DPPH radicals in plasma after oral administration of Ninjin-yoei-to to rats. When 1.0 g kg(-1) Ninjin-yoei-to was administered, the DPPH radical scavenging ability increased at 30 min and biphasic peaks were observed at 2 h and at 10 h. From the response-time profile, kinetic parameters including values for K(a) (absorption rate constant), t(max) (peak concentration time), t(1/2) (half-life) and MRT (mean residence time) of the radical scavenging ability in plasma could be calculated for DPPH radicals. K(a) values were 0.53 +/- 0.03 and 0.36 +/- 0.07 h, t(max) values were 2.1 +/- 1.04 and 8.56 +/- 2.69 h, t(1/2) values were 1.60 +/- 0.12 and 3.39 +/- 1.72 h, and MRT values were 4.14 +/- 1.59 and 8.18 +/- 2.55 h, respectively. These parameters calculated from the antioxidation dynamics were considered to offer a very meaningful procedure for examining the effects of Ninjin-yoei-to.