Antioxidant Activities of Crude Phlorotannins from Sargassum hemiphyllum

Brown algae are well known as a source of biologically active compounds, especially those having antioxidant activities, such as phlorotannins. In this study we examined the antioxidant activities of crude phlorotannins extracts（CPEs） obtained from Sargassum hemiphyllum（SH） and fractionated according to the molecular weights. When CPEs were administrated at a dose of 30 mg/kg to Kunming mice pre-treated with carbon tetrachloride（CCl4）, the levels of oxidative stress indicators in the liver, kidney and brain were significantly reduced in vivo. All the components of various molecular weight fractions of CPEs exhibited greater scavenging capacities in clearing hydroxyl free radical and superoxide anion than the positive controls gallic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E. Particularly, the components greater than 30 k D obtained from ethyl acetate phase showed the highest antioxidant capacities. These results indicated that SH is a potential source for extracting phlorotannins, the algal antioxidant compounds.

In vivo antioxidant activity of rabbiteye blueberry(Vaccinium ashei cv.'Brightwell')anthocyanin extracts

Blueberries are rich in phenolic compounds including anthocyanins which are closely related to biological health functions.The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of blueberry anthocyanins extracted from'Brightwell'rabbiteye blueberries in mice.After one week of adaptation,C57BL/6J healthy male mice were divided into different groups that were administered with 100,400,or 800 mg/kg blueberry anthocyanin extract(BAE),and sacrificed at different time points(0.1,0.5,1,2,4,8,or 12 h).The plasma,eyeball,intestine,liver,and adipose tissues were collected to compare their antioxidant activity,including total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity and glutathione-peroxidase(GSH-PX/GPX)content,and the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde(MDA)level.The results showed that blueberry anthocyanins had positive concentration-dependent antioxidant activity in vivo.The greater the concentration of BAE,the higher the T-AOC value,but the lower the MDA level.The enzyme activity of SOD,the content of GSH-PX,and messenger RNA(mRNA)levels of Cu,Zn-SOD,Mn-SOD,and GPX all confirmed that BAE played an antioxidant role after digestion in mice by improving their antioxidant defense.The in vivo antioxidant activity of BAE indicated that blueberry anthocyanins could be developed into functional foods or nutraceuticals with the aim of preventing or treating oxidative stress-related diseases.

Enhanced Antioxidant Capacities in vivo Caused by the Change in Key Constituent of Terminalia chebula Retz. Treated with Tibet Traditional Process

In order to investigate the chemical-biological relationship caused by the special processing technology,the constituent＇s content and antioxidant capacity in vivo of Euphorbia fischeriana Steud processing Terminalia chebula Retz. have been tested. Taking T. chebula Retz. as control,the content of gallic acid is analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography（HPLC） method. The results show that the increase of gallic acid concentration from 4.54% to 7.46% leads to enhancement of the antioxidant capacities in vivo of the E. fischeriana Steud processing T. chebula Retz. The significant antioxidant capacity in vivo（p〈0.05） of the processed product possesses is better than the unprocessed herb. Its superoxide dismutase（SOD）and malondia-ldehyde（MDA） contents in serum,the MDA content in liver can match the effects of vitamine E when administered at high dosage.

Phenolic profile and chronic gastric ulcer healing effects of Cameroonian propolis

Background:Gastric ulcers continue to affect millions of people worldwide,with reported cases of fatalities and the diagnosis,prevention and treatment constitute a burden on the patients especially in case of chronic ulcers which are difficult to treat.Natural medicines such as propolis provide suitable therapeutic alternatives in the treatment and curation of ulcers.Objective:This work focused on the evaluation of the phenolic profile and healing effect of Cameroonian propolis on gastric ulcers in rats.Methods:Identification and quantification of phenolic compounds in the propolis extract was done using HPLC-DAD.Chronic gastric ulcers were induced using ethanol(70%;1 mL/200 g p.o.)/indomethacin(1 mg/kg p.o.),and“unhealed”gastric ulcerations were induced using acetic acid(30%)/indomethacin(1 mg/kg p.o.).The animals were administered with the vehicle(Tween 20,1 mL/100 g p.o.),propolis extract(200 mg/kg,400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg p.o.)or sucralfate(50 mg/kg p.o.),once daily for ten to fourteen days.At the end of each treatment period,the animals were sacrificed and ulcer indices,gastric mucus weight,histological and oxidative stress parameters were assessed.Results:Eight phenolic compounds were identified and quantified and most abundant were Caffeic acid(45.31±0.25μg/g),Chrysin(37.65±0.17μg/g)and p-Hydroxy benzoic acid(34.14±0.21μg/g).The treatment of ulcerated rats(chronic and unhealed gastric ulcer models)with propolis extract at 200 mg/kg,400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg resulted in reduction of ulcer index compared to negative controls in both models.Histological ob-servation of stomach tissues showed that treatment with propolis extract led to a dose-dependent normalization of the mucosa.There was a significant increase(P<0.05;P<0.01 and P<0.001)in mucus weight that accom-panied the healing of the ulcers.Furthermore,doses of 200 mg/kg,400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg of the propolis extract induced an increase in the amounts of SOD,catalase,nitrite and GSH while MDA concentrations decreased in both models.Conclusion:The healing effect of propolis extract is due to the stimulation of mucus production followed by an improvement of in vivo antioxidant status.These results support the use of propolis in the development of new pharmacological strategies for the management of peptic ulcers disease.