RESUMEN
Oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein (LDL) could contribute to one of the atherosclerotic processes through its uptake by the scavenger receptor of macrophage. The aim of the present study was to examine whether ganghaungenin has an antioxidant effect. For the approach of the aim, a lipid peroxidation of LDL, the changes of degradation and negative charge of LDL, and LDL uptake in macrophage were measured after ganghaungenin was treated in the reaction process of LDL oxidation. The effective LDL oxidation was performed with treatment of 20 pM CuSO4 for 5 hours. Quercetin, one of the well-known antioxidant, was used as a positive control. The antioxdant effect of ganghaungenin on the LDL oxidation were examined at concentrations of both 40 p,M and 80 p,M for Sh. Ganghaungenin significantly inhibited the lipid peroxidation of LDL. It inhibited the oxidation-enhanced degradation and negative charge of LDL. Even 100 p,M of it did not have any toxic effects on macrophage. It inhibited the uptake of the oxidized LDL into macrophage. These data revealed that ganghaungenin obtained from Scutellaria Baicalensis Georgi was a potent antioxidant in inhibiting the oxidative modification of LDL. Conclusively, these findings indicate that ganghaungenin in physiologic concentrations could inhibit the oxidative modification of LDL in vivo, and suggest that ganghaungenin could be also used for the atherosclerosis prevention.