RESUMO
Effect of spice principles on scavenging of superoxide anion has been investigated. The superoxide anions, as measured by nitrobluetetrazolium (NBT) reduction in xanthine-xanthine oxidase system, were inhibited by superoxide dismutase, spice principles eugenol (cloves) and cuminaldehyde (cumin), antioxidants, butylated hydroxy toluene and butylated hydroxyanisole in a dose-dependent manner. The K(i) values for the inhibition of NBT reduction by eugenol and cuminaldehyde were 64 microM and 120 microM respectively. Zingerone (ginger) and linalool (coriander) inhibited NBT reduction to a maximum of 23 and 28% respectively. However, piperine (black pepper) and turmeric extracts (aqueous and acid) failed to scavenge superoxide anions.
Assuntos
Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Benzaldeídos/farmacologia , Eugenol/farmacologia , Sequestradores de Radicais Livres , Nitroazul de Tetrazólio/metabolismo , Oxirredução , Especiarias , Superóxidos/metabolismoRESUMO
Retinol deficient rat liver, kidney and spleen showed a significant decrease in their enzyme activity (36% to 50%) compared to controls. The lectins could stimulate the enzyme activity in retinol deficient group by 57.6 to 92%, compared to controls (13.3% to 74%). Detergents increased the enzyme activity in retinol deficient tissue microsomes by 4.5%-80% in comparison to controls (10.3% to 119%). The results reveal alterations in membrane structure induced by retinol deficiency.