Hypoglycemic activity of Capparis ovata desf. var. palaestina zoh. methanol extract

Caper (Capparis ovata Desf. and Capparis spinosa L.) is naturally widespread in Turkey. Traditionally, buds, fruits, seeds and roots of this plant are used as tonic, diuretic, anti-rheumatic, expectorant, antidiabetic, and antifungal. The aim of this study is to evaluate potential hypoglycemic effect of C. ovata var. palaestina extracts in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. For this purpose; diabetic mice were administered with 100, 300, 500 mg/kg (i.p.) doses of methanol extract of bud and fruit. Blood glucose levels were screened 60, 120, 240 and 360 min. after treatment. Furthermore, high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analysis, ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging activity test, and phenolic and flavonoid compounds analysis of extracts were carried out. The data obtained from in vivo study revealed that fruit-methanol 500 mg/kg (FM3), bud-methanol 300 mg/kg (BM2), bud-methanol 500 mg/kg (BM3) extracts showed significant hypoglycemic activity. All extracts indicated significant antioxidant activity, however bud-methanol (BM) extract demonstrated the most potent antioxidant activity. Moreover high levels of phenolic substances and flavonoids were involved in all extracts, but the highest levels were found in FM extract. HRMS study showed that rutin, quercetin 3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin) and stachydrine substances had seen in BM extract. The results of this study showed that the C. ovata var. palaestina extracts which, indicate hypoglycemic, antioxidant activities, might provide additional support in diabetes.

Schinus terebinthifolius administration prevented behavioral and biochemical alterations in a rotenone model of Parkinson's disease

ABSTRACT Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor impairment, cognitive decline and psychiatric symptoms. Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, Anacardiaceae, had been studied for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and in this study, the stem bark was evaluated for the neuroprotective effects on behavioral and biochemical alterations induced by administrations of rotenone in rats. Behavioral evaluations were performed using open-field and rotarod. The in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities were determined by the DPPH radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation method respectively. The administration of rotenone (3 mg/kg, s.c.) produced hypolocomotion, increase of immobility and muscle incoordination, while the treatment with S. terebinthifolius stem bark extract (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg p.o.) for seven days prevented rotenone-induced dysfunctional behavior. Biochemical analysis of the substantia nigra, striatum and cortex revealed that rotenone administration significantly increased lipid peroxidation, which was inhibited by treatment with all doses of S. terebinthifolius. The results suggested neuroprotective effect of S. terebinthifolius possibly mediated through its antioxidant activity, indicating a potential therapeutic benefit of this species in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

YGS40, an active fraction of Yi-Gan San, reduces hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells / 中国天然药物

In our previous study, we have elucidated the chemical profile of YGS40, a fraction of Yi-Gan San (YGS), used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Oxidative stress-induced apoptosis is implicated in neurodegenerative disorders such as AD. The aim of the present study was to explore the protective effects of YGS40 against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells and the underlying mechanisms. PC12 cells were exposed to 100 μmol·L(-1) of H2O2 for 12 h with or without YGS40 pretreatment. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT (3, (4, 5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl) 2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays; apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/propidium iodide coupled staining and by determining caspase-3 activity and Bax and Bcl-2 protein levels. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was assessed by the retention of rhodamine123; and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured using commercially available enzymatic kits. Pretreatment with YGS40 significantly prevented H2O2-induced cytotoxicity and protected the cells against H2O2-triggered apoptosis characterized by externalization of membrane phosphatidylserine and caspase-3 activation and the increased ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in PC12 cells. Further studies showed that YGS40 suppressed H2O2-induced MMP loss, increased SOD activity, and decreased MDA level. These findings suggest that YGS40 may be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress-mediated disorders.

Antioxidant effects of protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid in human neutrophils using a fluorescent substance / Efectos antioxidantes del ácido protocatéquico, ácido ferúlico y el ácido caféico usando una sustancia fluorescente en los neutrófilos humanos

Human neutrophils stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), an activator of protein kinase C, produce active oxygen by NADPH oxidase in intracellular structures. We added succinimidyl ester of dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA), which first emits fluorescence when oxidized with active oxygen species, to neutrophils to produce active oxygen, in order to investigate the antioxidant effects of protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid which belong to polyphenols and are widely distributed among plants. Particularly, we focused on examining whether these substances capture and eliminate active oxygen inside or outside the neutrophil cytoplasm and whether these substances inhibit NADPH oxidase. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that fluorescence-positive intracellular structures were decreased in neutrophils when stimulated by PMA and exposed to an antioxidant. Quantitative measurement by flow cytometry revealed that the fluorescence intensities in neutrophils, exposed to protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, or caffeic acid, were decreased by 62.9 percent, 71.4 percent, and 86.1 percent, respectively, as compared with those stimulated by PMA but not exposed to an antioxidant. Judging from fluorescence microscopy and dot blots by flow cytometry, these antioxidants had no effects on neutrophil morphology. On the other hand, the fluorescence intensities of the active oxygen released from neutrophils were decreased by 81.4 percent, 46.7 percent, and 27.4 percent, respectively. Diphenylene iodonium, a specific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, inhibited the enzyme by 92.1 percent in the PMA-stimulated neutrophils. Protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid inhibited the enzyme by 36.5 percent, 54.6 percent, and 27.4 percent, respectively. These results demonstrate that protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid capture and eliminate active oxygen, produced by PMA-stimulated neutrophils, intracellularly and extracellularly. Furthe...

Los neutrófilos humanos estimulados por forbol-miristato-acetato (PMA), un activador de la proteína quinasa C, producen oxígeno activo por la NADPH oxidasa en las estructuras intracelulares. Hemos añadido diacetato de 2', 7-dihidro dicloro fluoresceína (H2DCFDA), que emite fluorescencia cuando se oxida con las especies de oxígeno activo, a neutrófilos para producir oxígeno activo, a fin de investigar el efecto antioxidante del ácido protocatéquico, el ácido ferúlico y el ácido cafeico que pertenecen a polifenoles y se distribuyen ampliamente entre las plantas. Particularmente, nos enfocamos en examinar si estas sustancias capturan y eliminan el oxígeno activo dentro o fuera del citoplasma de neutrófilos y si estas sustancias inhiben la NADPH oxidasa. La microscopia de fluorescencia demostró que las estructuras intracelulares positivas a fluorescencia disminuyeron en los neutrófilos mediante la estimulación de la PMA y exposición a un antioxidante. La medición cuantitativa por citometría de flujo reveló que la intensidad de fluorescencia en los neutrófilos, expuestos al ácido protocatéquico, el ácido ferúlico, o el ácido cafeico, se redujo un 62,9 por ciento, 71,4 por ciento y 86,1 por ciento, respectivamente, en comparación con las estimuladas por PMA pero no expuestas a un antioxidante. A juzgar desde la microscopía de fluorescencia y la citometría de flujo, estos antioxidantes no tuvieron efectos sobre la morfología de los neutrófilos. Por otra parte, la intensidad de fluorescencia del oxígeno activo liberado por los neutrófilos se redujeron un 81,4 por ciento, 46,7 por ciento y 27,4 por ciento, respectivamente. El DPI (difenileno-iodonio), un inhibidor específico de la NADPH oxidasa, inhibió a la enzima en el 92,1 por ciento en los neutrófilos estimulados por PMA. El ácido protocatéquico, el ácido ferúlico y el ácido caféico inhiben la enzima en un 36,5 por ciento, 54,6 por ciento y 27,4 por ciento, respectivamente. Estos resultados demuestran...

Studies on Antistress and Antioxidant Effects of Schefflera elliptica (Blume) Harms. Araliaceae

Both ethanol extracts of the bark and leaves of Schefflera elliptica (Blume) Harms (Araliaceae) showed antistress effect on mice at the oral doses of 158 and 167 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The bark proved to be more effective than the leaves, and their efficacity increased with the doses. Both extracts possessed in vitro antioxidant activity at the concentrations of 50-100 mcg/ml, the bark also being more effective than the leaves. The total saponin extract of the bark exhibited antioxidant effects at the levels of 5-25 mcg/ml. So, saponins might be the chemical constituents determining the antioxidant activity.