Nauclea latifolia aqueous leaf extract eliminates hepatic and cerebral Plasmodium berghei parasite in experimental mice

Objective:To assess the effects of hot water leaf extract of Nauclea latifolia (N. latifolia) on antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation values and parasite levels in hepatic and brain tissue of experimental mice (BALB/c) infected with Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei) malaria. Methods:Forty nine mice were divided into seven groups (n=7) and used for the study. Group A (control) were given 0.2 mL/kg phosphate buffer saline;Group B mice were infected with P. berghei and treated with phosphate buffer saline. Groups C and D mice were also infected but treated with 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight of leaf extract respectively. Groups E and F mice were not infected, but received 200 and 300 mg/kg of leaf extract respectively. Group G mice were infected and treated with chloroquine (5 mg/kg). Liver and brain tissues of mice were prepared for both biochemical assay and microscopic examination. Results:Results showed that P. berghei malaria infection induced oxidative stress in both liver and brain tissues as evidenced by the significant (P Conclusions:The bioactive phytochemical(s) in N. latifolia should be structured and the mechanism(s) of its antimalarial tendency should be further investigated.

Nauclea latifolia aqueous leaf extract eliminates hepatic and cerebral Plasmodium berghei parasite in experimental mice

Objective: To assess the effects of hot water leaf extract of Nauclea latifolia (N. latifolia) on antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation values and parasite levels in hepatic and brain tissue of experimental mice (BALB/c) infected with Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei) malaria. Methods: Forty nine mice were divided into seven groups (n = 7) and used for the study. Group A (control) were given 0.2 mL/kg phosphate buffer saline; Group B mice were infected with P. berghei and treated with phosphate buffer saline. Groups C and D mice were also infected but treated with 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight of leaf extract respectively. Groups E and F mice were not infected, but received 200 and 300 mg/kg of leaf extract respectively. Group G mice were infected and treated with chloroquine (5 mg/ kg). Liver and brain tissues of mice were prepared for both biochemical assay and microscopic examination. Results: Results showed that P. berghei malaria infection induced oxidative stress in both liver and brain tissues as evidenced by the significant (P < 0.05) decrease in antioxidants: superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and catalase. These reductions perhaps caused compromise in membrane integrity as indicated by the significant increase in lipid peroxidation product malondialdhyde. Malaria parasites were also identified in these tissues. However, N. latifolia treatment eliminated the parasites in tissues and protected them from oxidative damage even better than chloroquine treatment did, whose anti-malarial potency also cleared tissue parasites. The measurement of protection by N. latifolia against damage was strengthened by the insignificant micro structural alterations. Conclusions: The bioactive phytochemical(s) in N. latifolia should be structured and the mechanism(s) of its antimalarial tendency should be further investigated.

Association between oxidative stress and blood pressure in Korean subclinical hypertensive patients

This study was conducted in order to investigate the association between hypertension and oxidative stress-related parameters and to evaluate these parameters in subclinical hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects living in Korea. We attempted to determine whether oxidative stress-related parameters would differ between two groups of 227 newly-diagnosed, untreated (systolic blood pressure (BP) > or = 130 mmHg and diastolic BP > or = 85 mmHg) and 130 normotensive subjects (systolic BP < 120 mmHg and diastolic BP < 80 mmHg). General characteristics of the subjects were collected using a simple questionnaire. From subjects' blood, degree of DNA damage in lymphocytes, the activities of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, level of plasma total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), glutathione, and anti-oxidative vitamins, as well as plasma lipid profiles and conjugated diene (CD) were analyzed. Evaluation of the associations of oxidative stress-related parameters with blood pressure of the subjects was performed using Pearson partial correlation and multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjusting for confounding factors. Several oxidative stress-related parameters were higher in subclinical hypertensive patients than in normotensive subjects. Plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, TRAP, and activity of GSH-px were significantly lower in subclinical hypertensive patients than in normotensive subjects. Increased levels of DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol were observed in subclinical hypertensive patients. These results confirm an association between blood pressure and oxidative stress-related parameters and suggest that the pathogenic role of oxidative stress in hypertension might be significant.

Lymphocyte DNA Damage and Anti-Oxidative Parameters are Affected by the Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) M1 and T1 Polymorphism and Smoking Status in Korean Young Adults

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is a multigene family of phase II detoxifying enzymes that metabolize a wide range of exogenous and endogenous electrophilic compounds. GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms may account for inter-individual variability in coping with oxidative stress. We investigated the relationships between the level of lymphocyte DNA and antioxidative parameters and the effect on GST genotypes. GSTM1 and GSTT1 were characterized in 301 young healthy Korean adults and compared with oxidative stress parameters such as the level of lymphocyte DNA, plasma antioxidant vitamins, and erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes in smokers and non smokers. GST genotype, degree of DNA damage in lymphocytes, erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and plasma concentrations of total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), vitamin C, alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, alpha- and beta-carotene, and cryptoxanthin were analyzed. Lymphocyte DNA damage assessed by the comet assay was higher in smokers than that in non-smokers, but the levels of plasma vitamin C, beta-carotene, TRAP, erythrocyte catalase, and GSH-Px were lower than those of non-smokers (p < 0.05). Lymphocyte DNA damage was higher in subjects with the GSTM1-null or GSTT1-present genotype than those with the GSTM1-present or GSTT1-null genotype. No difference in erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities, plasma TRAP, or vitamin levels was observed in subjects with the GSTM1 or GSTT1 genotypes, except beta-carotene. Significant negative correlations were observed between lymphocyte DNA damage and plasma levels of TRAP and erythrocyte activities of catalase and GSH-Px after adjusting for smoking pack-years. Negative correlations were observed between plasma vitamin C and lymphocyte DNA damage only in individuals with the GSTM1-present or GSTT1-null genotype. The interesting finding was the significant positive correlations between lymphocyte DNA damage and plasma levels of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and cryptoxanthin. In conclusion, the GSTM1-null and GSTT1-present genotypes as well as smoking aggravated antioxidant status through lymphocyte DNA damage. This finding confirms that GST polymorphisms could be important determinants of antioxidant status in young smoking and non-smoking adults. Consequently, the protective effect of supplemental antioxidants on DNA damage in individuals carrying the GSTM1-null or GSTT1-present genotypes might show significantly higher values than expected.

Antioxidative Status, DNA Damage and Lipid Profiles in Korean Young Adults by Glutathione S-Transferase Polymorphisms

Oxidative stress leads to the induction of cellular oxidative damage, which may cause adverse modifications of DNA, proteins, and lipids. The production of reactive species during oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of many diseases. Antioxidant defenses can neutralize reactive oxygen species and protect against oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant status and the degree of DNA damage in Korean young adults using glutathione s-transferase (GST) polymorphisms. The GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes were characterized in 245 healthy young adults by smoking status, and their oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes and antioxidant status were assessed by GST genotype. General characteristics were investigated by simple questionnaire. From the blood of the subjects, GST genotypes; degree of DNA damage in lymphocytes; the erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase; plasma concentrations of total peroxyl radical-trapping potential (TRAP), vitamin C, alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, alpha- and beta-carotene and cryptoxanthin, as well as plasma lipid profiles, conjugated diene (CD), GOT, and GPT were analyzed. Of the 245 subjects studied, 23.2% were GSTM1 wild genotypes and 33.4% were GSTT1 wild genotype. No difference in erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, or glutathione peroxidase, and the plasma TRAP level, CD, GOT, and GPT levels were observed between smokers and non-smokers categorized by GSTM1 or GSTT1 genotype. Plasma levels of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol increased significantly in smokers with the GSTT1 wild genotype (p < 0.05); however, plasma level of alpha-carotene decreased significantly in non-smokers with the GSTM1 wild genotype (p < 0.05). DNA damage assessed by the Comet assay was significantly higher in non-smokers with the GSTM1 null genotype; whereas DNA damage was significantly lower in non-smokers with the GSTT1 null genotype. Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher in non-smokers with the GSTT1 null genotype than those with the GSTT1 wild genotype (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the GSTM1 null genotype or the GSTT1 wild genotype in non-smokers aggravated their antioxidant status through DNA damage of lymphocytes; however, the GSTT1 wild type in non-smokers had normal plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels. This finding confirms that GST polymorphisms could be an important determinant of antioxidant status and plasma lipid profiles in non-smoking young adults. Further study is necessary to clarify the antioxidant status and/or lipid profiles of smokers with the GST polymorphism and to conduct a study with significantly more subjects.

Effects of Fractions of Benincasa hispida on Antioxidative Status in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

This study was designed to examine the effects of fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida (wax gourd) on hepatic antioxidative status in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced diabetes mellitus by STZ injection (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein and were divided into 5 groups: normal, STZ-control, three experimental diabetic groups. Fractions of ethanol extract of Benincasa hispida were administered orally into the diabetic rats for 14 days. Hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activity (determined with H2O2 as substrate) was increased in the groups supplemented with chloroform (CHCl3) and butanol (BuOH) fractions. Glutathione peroxidase (GR) activity in the liver cytosol of H2O fraction groups was significantly lower than that of STZ-control group. The H2O fraction supplemented group has been shown the notably decrease in the hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The hepatic cytosol catalase (CAT) activity was significant decreased by the supplementation with BuOH fraction. It was found from the results that the supplementation of BuOH and H2O fractions of Benincasa hispida extract could be beneficial for the diabetic complications and damages from the lipid peroxidation.