Abstract
Pine(Pinus densiflora Sieb et Zucc.) is one of rhe popular plant drugs which has been used as a medicine in Asia. To investigate the effect of pine needle extract (PNE) on oxygen radicals and their scavenger enzymes in brain membranes of Sprague- Dawley (SD), make SD rats were fed basic diets(control group), and experimental diets (PNE group) with 0.5 and 1.0% of PNE 6 weeks. Mitochondrial hydroxyl radical levels in brain of 0.5%-PNE and 1.0%-PNE groups were significantly inhibited to 30% and 25%, respectively, and microsomal hydrogen peroxide levels in brain of 0.5%-PNE and 1.0%-PNE groups were significantly inhibited to 15% compared with control group. Cytosolic superoxide rdical levels in 1.0%-PNE group were significantly inhibited to 20% compared with control group. Lipid peroxide(LPO) levels in brain mitochondria of 0.5%-PNE and 1.0%-PNE groups were significantly lower(25% and 35%) than that in control group. Mn-superoxide disumtase (SOD) activities in brain of 0.5%-PNE and 1.0%-PNE groups were significantly higher(18% and 12%) than those in control groups, but Cu,Zn-SOD activities in brain of 0.5%-PNE were significantly activated to 15% compared with control group. Glutathione peroxidase(GSHPx) activities in brain of 1.5%-PNE and 1.0% PNE groups were significantly higher(14% and 12%) than those in control group. These results suggest that more beneficial effects such as inhibition of oxygen radicals and lipid peroxide(LPO). and oncreases of scavenger enzymes in brain membranes of SD rats may be effectively modulated by administration of pine needle extract (PNE)