ABSTRACT
The Mediterranean diet is considered to prevent several diseases. In the present study, the antioxidant properties of six extracts from Mediterranean plant foods were assessed. The extracts' chemical composition analysis showed that the total polyphenolic content ranged from 56 to 408 GAE mg/g dw of extract. The major polyphenols identified in the extracts were quercetin, luteolin, caftaric acid, caffeoylquinic acid isomers, and cichoric acid. The extracts showed in vitro high scavenging potency against ABTSâ¢+ and O2 â¢- radicals and reducing power activity. Also, the extracts inhibited peroxyl radical-induced cleavage of DNA plasmids. The three most potent extracts, Cichorium intybus, Carthamus lanatus, and Cichorium spinosum, inhibited OHâ¢-induced mutations in Salmonella typhimurium TA102 cells. Moreover, C. intybus, C. lanatus, and C. spinosum extracts increased the antioxidant molecule glutathione (GSH) by 33.4, 21.5, and 10.5% at 50 µg/ml, respectively, in human endothelial EA.hy926 cells. C. intybus extract was also shown to induce in endothelial cells the transcriptional expression of Nrf2 (the major transcription factor of antioxidant genes), as well as of antioxidant genes GCLC, GSR, NQO1, and HMOX1. In conclusion, the results suggested that extracts from edible plants may prevent diseases associated especially with endothelium damage.
Subject(s)
Asteraceae/chemistry , Carthamus/chemistry , Cichorium intybus/chemistry , Endothelial Cells/drug effects , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plants, Edible/chemistry , Antioxidants/metabolism , Cell Line , Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase/metabolism , Glutathione/metabolism , Heme Oxygenase-1/metabolism , Humans , NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone)/metabolism , NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism , Polyphenols/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant effects of a feed supplemented with polyphenolic additives from olive mill wastewater (OMW) on lambs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lambs received breast milk until the postnatal period, and then they were divided into two groups and received control and OMW feed for 55 days. Redox biomarkers were measured in blood and tissues at days 15, 42 and 70 after feeding. RESULTS: Feed supplemented with OMW reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive species and protein carbonyls and increased total antioxidant capacity, glutathione and catalase activity in both blood and tissues. CONCLUSION: The administration of OMW-containing feed reinforced the antioxidant defense of lambs, which may improve their wellbeing and productivity. Additionally, this exploitation of OMW may solve problems of environmental pollution in areas with olive oil industries.