Implications for degenerative disorders: Antioxidative activity, total phenols, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, β-carotene and β-tocopherol in Aloe vera

In order to demonstrate whether the known biological effects of Aloe vera (L.) Burm. fil. could correlate with the antioxidant activity of the plant, the antioxidant activity of the aqueous leaf extract was investigated. The present study demonstrated that the aqueous extract from A. vera leaves contained naturally occuring antioxidant components, including total phenols, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, β-carotene and α-tocopherol. The extract exhibited inhibitory capacity against Fe3+/ascorbic acid induced phosphatidylcholine liposome oxidation, scavenged stable DPPH•, ABTS•+ and superoxide anion radicals, and acted as reductant. In contrast, the leaf inner gel did not show any antioxidant activity. It was concluded that the known beneficial effects of Aloe vera could be attributed to its antioxidant activity and could be related to the presence of phenolic compounds and antioxidant vitamins

The protective effect of an aqueous extract from Smilax excelsa l. against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats

Background: Because reactive oxygen species (ros) contribute to the pathogenesis of various acute and chronic liver diseases, dietary antioxidants and drugs from herbal origins have been proved to be beneficial as therapeutic agents in reversing hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of an aqueous extract from smilax excelsa l. Shoots and leaves against acute ccl4-induced liver injury as well as the changes in antioxidative defense system in female wistar albino rats.Materials and Methods: S. Excelsa extract was administered orally in doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, once daily for 9 days. Acute hepatic toxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection of ccl4 (1 ml/kg) on the 10th day. 24 h after ccl4 intoxication, biochemical and histopathological analyses were undertaken on sera and liver tissues.Results: Ccl4 challenge caused significant increases in the activities of liver enzymes as well as the levels of bilirubin, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide, while total serum protein levels and antioxidant defense system parameters were reduced significantly compared to the normal group. Administration of s. Excelsa extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg resulted in a suppression of ccl4-induced lipid peroxidation and altered oxidative stress parameters to nearly normal values in comparison to ccl4-treated rats. Nevertheless the extract did not reduce the extent of ccl4-induced mild liver injury, as seen by the histopathology of liver damage.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that s. Excelsa could protect the liver tissues against ccl4-induced oxidative stress probably by increasing antioxidative defense activities.Keywords: Antioxidant enzymes, carbon tetrachloride, liver injury, smilax excelsa, hepatoprotective activit

HYPERICUM PERFORATUM IMPROVE MEMORY AND LEARNING IN ALZHEIMER'S MODEL: (EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN MICE)

Objective: The aim of this study, we based on protective and antioxidant efficiency of Hypericum perforatum that shows a wide range of beneficial effect in vitro and in vivo.Methods: The in vitro antioxidant activity of the extract was assessed by using several antioxidant tests. The cytotoxic activity of Hypericum perforatum was also determined by using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide viability assay on ordinary used cell lines. In vivo experiments in Swiss mice were determined by performing behavioral, memory tests and histological study. According to tests results, H. perforatum may be relevant to the treatment of cognitive disorders.Results: The results of chemical analysis showed a hight level of hyperforin and quercitin that had an important antioxidant activity proved in vitro with the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, Anti-lactoperoxidase and superoxide dismutases; this antioxidant activity was confirmed in vivo after the non-toxic results by means of improvement in behavioral and memory than the reducing shrunken in pyramidal cells of mice brains.Conclusion: The present study suggests that Hypericum perforatum modulate the oxidative stress and be involved in the protective effect against oxidative damage and neurodegenerative diseases in mice

THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF AN AQUEOUS EXTRACT FROM SMILAX EXCELSA L. AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE-INDUCED LIVER INJURY IN RATS

Background: Because reactive oxygen species (ros) contribute to the pathogenesis of various acute and chronic liver diseases, dietary antioxidants and drugs from herbal origins have been proved to be beneficial as therapeutic agents in reversing hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of an aqueous extract from smilax excelsa l. Shoots and leaves against acute ccl4-induced liver injury as well as the changes in antioxidative defense system in female wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods: S. Excelsa extract was administered orally in doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, once daily for 9 days. Acute hepatic toxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection of ccl4 (1 ml/kg) on the 10th day. 24 h after ccl4 intoxication, biochemical and histopathological analyses were undertaken on sera and liver tissues. Results: Ccl4 challenge caused significant increases in the activities of liver enzymes as well as the levels of bilirubin, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide, while total serum protein levels and antioxidant defense system parameters were reduced significantly compared to the normal group. Administration of s. Excelsa extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg resulted in a suppression of ccl4-induced lipid peroxidation and altered oxidative stress parameters to nearly normal values in comparison to ccl4-treated rats. Nevertheless the extract did not reduce the extent of ccl4-induced mild liver injury, as seen by the histopathology of liver damage. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that s. Excelsa could protect the liver tissues against ccl4-induced oxidative stress probably by increasing antioxidative defense activities

Production and characterization of alpha-galactosidase from Aspergillus flavipes

An extracellular a-galactosidase from the culture filtrate of Aspergillus flavipes grown on melibiose as a carbon source was partially purified by hydroxylapatite and diethylaminoethylcellulose chromatographies. Electrophoretic analysis showed protein bands corresponding to alpha-galactosidase and invertase activities. The optimum pH and temperature were determined as 4.5-5.0 and 45degreesC, respectively. The Km value for p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside was found to be 1.89 mm. The results reported in this study indicate that Aspergillus flavipes is indeed an active source of extracellular a-galactosidase. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd

Implications for Degenerative Disorders: Antioxidative Activity, Total Phenols, Flavonoids, Ascorbic Acid, β-Carotene and β-Tocopherol in Aloe vera

In order to demonstrate whether the known biological effects of Aloe vera (L.) Burm. fil. could correlate with the antioxidant activity of the plant, the antioxidant activity of the aqueous leaf extract was investigated. The present study demonstrated that the aqueous extract from A. vera leaves contained naturally occuring antioxidant components, including total phenols, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, β-carotene and α-tocopherol. The extract exhibited inhibitory capacity against Fe3+/ascorbic acid induced phosphatidylcholine liposome oxidation, scavenged stable DPPH•, ABTS•+ and superoxide anion radicals, and acted as reductant. In contrast, the leaf inner gel did not show any antioxidant activity. It was concluded that the known beneficial effects of Aloe vera could be attributed to its antioxidant activity and could be related to the presence of phenolic compounds and antioxidant vitamins

Antioxidant activity and three phenolic compounds from the roots of Taraxacum gracilens Dahlst.

Background and Aims: The genus Taraxacum is a member of the family Asteraceae. Taraxacum species are widely distributed in the warmer temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract and its chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions from the roots of Taraxacum gracilens Dahlst. and isolate some of its phenolic compounds

Implications for degenerative disorders Antioxidative activity, total phenols, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol in Aloe vera

In order to demonstrate whether the known biological effects of Aloe vera (L.) Burm. fil. could correlate with the antioxidant activity of the plant, the antioxidant activity of the aqueous leaf extract was investigated. The present study demonstrated that the aqueous extract from A. vera leaves contained naturally occuring antioxidant components, including total phenols, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol. The extract exhibited inhibitory capacity against Fe3+/ascorbic acid induced phosphatidylcholine liposome oxidation, scavenged stable DPPH center dot, ABTS(center dot+) and superoxide anion radicals, and acted as reductant. In contrast, the leaf inner gel did not show any antioxidant activity. It was concluded that the known beneficial effects of Aloe vera could be attributed to its antioxidant activity and could be related to the presence of phenolic compounds and antioxidant vitamins