Medicinal Plants Extracts Impact on Oxidative Stress in Mice Brain Under the Physiological Conditions: the Effects of Corn Silk, Parsley, and Bearberry.

This study was performed to examine the effects of medicinal plant extracts of corn silk (Stigma maydis), parsley leaf (Petroselini folium), and bearberry leaf (Uvae ursi folium) on antioxidant status of the brain of experimental animals (mice) under the physiological conditions. Biological properties of these plants are insufficiently investigated and the aim was to explore their possible antioxidant effects that can alleviate oxidative damage of the brain tissue. Corn silk extract showed positive effect on activities of antioxidant enzymes in mice brain tissue. Parsley extract induced the increase in glutathione content and decrease of lipid peroxidation. Bearberry leaf extract induced catalase activity and decrease of hydroxyl radical content, while malonyldialdehide accumulation was maintained at the control level. Results obtained in this study support the use of corn silk, parsley and bearberry leaves as natural antioxidant sources in the prevention and treatment of brain tissue damages and different diseases caused by oxidative stress.

Comparative study of antioxidant status in androgenic embryos of Aesculus hippocastanum and Aesculus flava.

In vivo (leaves and seed embryos) and in vitro (androgenic embryos) antioxidant scavenging activity of Aesculus hippocastanum and Aesculus flava medical plants was examined. Here we report antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase and glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione quantity, flavonoids, soluble protein contents, quantities of malondialdehyde, and (•)OH radical presence in the investigated plant samples. Total antioxidant capacity of all the samples of A. hippocastanum and A. flava was determined using FRAP, DPPH, and NO(•) radical scavenger capacity. The leaves of A. flava collected from the botanical garden exhibited stronger antioxidant activity (higher activities of SOD, and higher quantities of GSH, TSH, TPC, and scavenging abilities of DPPH and NO(•), and higher FRAP values and lowest quantities of (•)OH and MDA) than in vitro obtained cultures. However, the leaves of A. flava showed higher antioxidant activity than the leaves of A. hippocastanum, and therefore they have a stronger tolerance of oxidative stress. Androgenic embryos of both species had low amount of antioxidants due to controlled in vitro environmental conditions (T, photoperiod, humidity, nutritive factors, and pathogen-free). Our results confirmed that we found optimal in vitro conditions for producing androgenic embryos of both Aesculus species. Also, we assume that horse chestnut androgenic embryos can be used as an alternative source for large-scale aescin production.

Enhancement of antioxidant and isoflavones concentration in gamma irradiated soybean.

Serbian soybean genotype Ana was gamma irradiated at doses of 1, 2, 4, and 10 kGy in order to evaluate the influence of gamma irradiation on isoflavone (genistein, daidzein, and their glycosides genistin and daidzin) contents and hydroxyl radical scavenging effect (HRSE). The increase in genistin and daidzin contents as well as antioxidant activities was observed especially at doses of 4 and 10 kGy. Results were also compared with our previous results relating to total phenol content (TPC), DPPH radical scavenger capacity (DPPH RSC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Our results indicated that doses up to 10 kGy improve the antioxidant activities of soybean and also nutritional quality with respect to isoflavone content. All results were analyzed by multivariate techniques (correlation matrix calculation and autoscaling transformation of data). Significant positive correlations were observed between genistin, daidzin, DPPH RSC, and HRSE.

Antioxidant characterization of oak extracts combining spectrophotometric assays and chemometrics.

Antioxidant characteristics of leaves, twigs, and acorns from two Serbian oak species Quercus robur L. and Quercus petraea L. from Vojvodina province (northern Serbia) were investigated. 80% ethanol (in water) extracts were used for antiradical power (ARP) determinations against DPPH(•), (•)NO, and O2 (•-) radicals, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenol, tannin, flavonoid, and proanthocyanidin contents. Permanganate reducing antioxidant capacity (PRAC) was determined using water extracts. Beside, mentioned parameters, soluble proteins, lipid peroxidation (LP), pigments and proline contents were also determined. The data of different procedures were compared and analyzed by multivariate techniques (correlation matrix calculation and principal component analysis (PCA)). PCA found that investigated organs of two different oak tree species possess similar antioxidant characteristics. The superior antioxidant characteristics showed oak leaves over twigs and acorns and seem to be promising source of antioxidants with possible use in industry and pharmacy.

Antioxidant capacity of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) - comparison between permanganate reducing antioxidant capacity and other antioxidant methods.

Ethanol extracts (80% in water) of 10 cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) genotypes were studied for antioxidant properties, using methods including DPPH(), ()NO, O(2)(-) and ()OH antiradical powers, FRAP, total phenolic and anthocyanin content (TPC and ACC) and also one relatively new, permanganate method (permanganate reducing antioxidant capacity-PRAC). Lipid peroxidation (LP) was also determined as an indicator of oxidative stress. The data from different procedures were compared and analysed by multivariate techniques (correlation matrix calculation and principal component analysis (PCA)). Significant positive correlations were obtained between TPC, ACC and DPPH(), ()NO, O(2)(-), and ()OH antiradical powers, and also between PRAC and TPC, ACC and FRAP. PCA found two major clusters of cornelian cherry, based on antiradical power, FRAP and PRAC and also on chemical composition. Chemometric evaluation showed close interdependence between PRAC method and FRAP and ACC. There was a huge variation between C. mas genotypes in terms of antioxidant activity.

Antioxidant and scavenging capacity of Anacamptis pyrimidalis L.--pyrimidal orchid from Vojvodina.

In the present study we investigated the antioxidative properties of flowers and aboveground part of Anacamptis pyrimidalis L. from Vojvodina. Activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and glutathione peroxidase), quantities of malonyldialdehyde, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals and reduced glutathione and also the contents of chlorophylls a and b, carotenoids and soluble proteins were determined. Lipofuscin 'plant age pigments', total antioxidant capacity and scavenging activity were also determined. Our results indicated that the aboveground part of the plant exhibited higher antioxidant activity due to low MDA and lipofuscin pigment accumulation (2.82 nmol/mg protein; 92.90%), higher scavenging activity (54.16%) and antioxidant capacity (432.00 micromol Fe(2+)/dm(3)).

Exploring Equisetum arvense L., Equisetum ramosissimum L. and Equisetum telmateia L. as sources of natural antioxidants.

The antioxidant and scavenging activities of above ground parts of Equisetum arvense L., Equisetum ramosissimum L. and Equisetum telmateia L. phosphate buffer (pH 7) extracts were investigated. Activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase and glutathione peroxidase), quantities of reduced glutathione, malonyldialdehyde, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals and flavonoid, soluble protein, chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid contents were determined. The total antioxidant capacity was determined by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The Equisetum telmateia extract demonstrated scavenging and antioxidant properties better than Equisetum ramosissimum and Equisetum arvense. The ESR signal of DMPO-OH radical adducts in the presence of Equisetum telmateia phosphate buffer (pH 7) extract was reduced by 98.9% indicating that Equisetum telmateia could be a useful source of antioxidants with huge scavenging ability.