• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2008

Some pharmacological activities of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica were evaluated using its methanol extract (UDE). An acute anti-inflammatory activity of UDE was assessed using carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in rats. UDE exhibited an antioxidant activity when assayed by a stable free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Dose-dependent anti-nociceptive activity of UDE was assessed using the acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice. UDE was able to diminish the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. UDE also suppressed production of nitric oxide and induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in the stimulated macrophages cells. collectively, the results imply that U. davidiana var. japonica has antioxidant and anti-nociceptive activities in addition to anti-inflammatory activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.412-417
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• 2009

In the course of screening for antioxidant compounds by measuring the radical scavenging effect on DPPH (1,1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl), a total extract of the twigs of Vitex rotundifolia (Verbenaceae) was found to show potent antioxidant activity. Subsequent activity-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract led to the isolation of three iridoid compounds, 10-O-vanilloylaucubin (1), 10-O-p-hydroxybenzoylaucubin (2) and aucubin (3), two C-glycoside flavones, vitexin (4) and orientin (5), and a quinic acid derivative, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (6). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic studies. Among them, compounds 5 and 6 showed the significant antioxidative effects on DPPH free radical scavenging test. In riboflavin-NBT-light and xanthine-NBT-xanthine oxidase systems, compounds 5 and 6 exhibited the formation of the blue formazan in a dose-dependent manner. Compounds 5 and 6 showed better superoxide quenching activities than vitamin C.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.433-441
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• 2010

Chenopodium album Linne (CAL) is a fast-growing weedy annual plant. The leaves and young shoots may be eaten as a leafy vegetable. In oriental medicine, CAL has been used for treatment of skin disease, fever, stomach ache, toothache, and paralysis. After a preliminary screening of CAL ethanol extract and its fractions obtained from CAL leaves for anti-gastritic and anti-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) activity, the butanol (BuOH) fraction was found to have the most significant effect. We also examined antioxidative properties of the total CAL extract and its fractions, and also betaine as an ingredient of the BuOH fraction. To investigate the antioxidant effects of CAL on gastritis, the reducing power, free radical scavenging activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and lipid peroxidation effects were determined. Additionally, the BuOH fraction reduced cell viability in a concentration dependent manner in human gastric cancer cell lines. The results of this study revealed that CAL has excellent antioxidant activity, and may be useful in treating gastritis and gastric cancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.381-385
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• 2019

We attempted to examine anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of 4'-O-${\beta}$-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol (GOMV), the first epigenetic inhibitor of histone phosphorylation at Ser10. While GOMV did not affect the viability of murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, it significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced generation of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and nitric oxide (NO) through transcriptional inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). GOMV also scavenged free radicals in vitro, increased NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2), and activated antioxidant response element (ARE), thereby resulting in the induction of phase II cytoprotective enzymes in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Finally, GOMV significantly protected HaCaT cells against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced oxidative intracellular damages. Together, our results illustrate that GOMV possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 2019

Methamphetamine (METH) acts strongly on the nervous system and damages neurons and is known to cause neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds present in green tea, red wine and several fruits exhibit antioxidant properties that protect neurons from oxidative damage and promote neuronal survival. Especially, epicatechin (EC) is a powerful flavonoid with antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor and antimutagenic effects as well as antioxidant effects. We therefore investigated whether EC could prevent METH-induced neurotoxicity using HT22 hippocampal neuronal cells. EC reduced METH-induced cell death of HT22 cells. In addition, we observed that EC abrogated the activation of ERK, p38 and inhibited the expression of CHOP and DR4. EC also reduced METH-induced ROS accumulation and MMP. These results suggest that EC may protect HT22 hippocampal neurons against METH-induced cell death by reducing ER stress and mitochondrial damage.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.336-341
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• 2011

As part of an ongoing search for natural plants with antioxidant compounds by measuring the radical scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), a total extract of the twigs of Galium spurium L. (Rubiaceae) was found to show potent antioxidant activity. Subsequent activity-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract led to the isolation of nine compounds, asperulosidic acid methyl ester (1), asperuloside (2), caffeic acid (3), kaempferol-3-O-L-rhamnopyranoside (4), quercetin-3-O-[${\alpha}$-Lrhamnopyranosyl($1{\rightarrow}6$)-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside] (5), isorhamnetin-3-O-glucopyranoside (6), quercetin-3-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranoside (7), kaempferol-3-O-[${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranosyl($1{\rightarrow}6$)-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside] (8), and quercetin (9). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic studies. Compounds 1, 3-8 were isolated for the first time from this plant. Among them, compounds 3 and 9 showed the significant radical scavenging effects on DPPH, and compounds 3 and 7 showed the potent riboflavin originated superoxide quenching activities.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.215-226
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• 2002

Acute or repeated physical exercise affects a large number of physiological parameters including hemodynamics, respiration, pH, temperature, gastrointestinal function and biotransformation, which determine the pharmacokinetics of drugs and chemicals. The rate and the amount of a chemical reaching the active site are altered by physical exercise, which results in significant changes in pharmacolosical/toxicological activity of the chemical. This aspect of physical exercise has vast implication in therapeutics and in safety evaluation, particularly for chemicals that have a low margin of safety. However there appears to be a wide inter- and intraindividual variation in the effects of physical exercise depend-ing on the duration, intensity and type of exercise, and also on the properties of each chemical. It is suggested that more studies need to be done to determine which factor(s) plays a major role in the disposition of chemicals in human/animals performing physical exercise. Certain chemicals induce severe toxicity due to metabolic conversion to reactive intermediate metabolites. it is suggested that repeated exercise may enhance the free radical scavenging system by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. This area of research remain to be explored to elucidate the interaction of exercise and chemical on the antioxidant system.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.188-193
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• 2001

Free radical scavengers or quenching agents for reactive oxygen species (ROS) present in consumable fruits, vegetables, and beverages have received considerable attention as potential antioxidants, and thus uses for treatment of several human diseases. In this study, grapevine shoot extract (GSE) containing high concentration of resveratrol and viniferine was evaluated for antioxidant potential and inhibition of pro-inflam-matory mediator production. Utilizing 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity and xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibition assay the GSE showed inhibitory effects of DPPH radical scavenging and XOD activity with the $IC_{50}$/ values of 34.5 and 155 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, respectively. In addition, GSE also exhibited the inhibition of prostaglandin E$_2$ (PGE$_2$) and nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells with the $IC_{50}$/ value of 6.4 and 14.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, respectively. This result suggests that grapevine shoot extract has the potential activity as a natural antioxidant or antiinflammatory agent.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.152-158
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• 2002

The present study elucidated the effect of $\beta$-carbolines (harmaline and harmalol) on brain mitochondlial dysfunction caused by the tyrosinase-induced oxidation of dopamine. Harmaline, harmalol and antioxidant enzymes (SOD and catalase) attenuated the dopamine-induced alteration of membrane potential, cytochrome c release and thiol oxidation in mitochondria. In contrast, antioxidant enzymes failed to reverse mitochondrial dysfunction induced by dopmnine plus tyrosinase. $\beta$-Carbolines decreased the damaging effect of dopamine plus tyrosinase against mitochondria, except no effect of harmalol on thiol oxidation. Antioxidant enzymes decreased the melanin formation from dopamine in the reaction mixture containing mitochondria but did not reduce the formation of dopamine quinone caused by tyrosinase. Both harmalol and harmaline inhibited the formation of reactive quinone and melanin. Harmalol being more effective for quinone formation and vise versa. The results indicate that compared to MAO-induced dopamine oxidation, the toxic effect of dopamine in the presence of tyrosinase against mitochondria may be accomplished by the dopamine quinone and toxic substances other than reactive oxygen species. $\beta$-Carbolines may decrease the dopamine plus tyrosinase-induced brain mitochondrial dysfunction by inhibition of the formation of reactive quinone and the change in membrane permeability.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.402-407
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• 1996

Effects of oxidative stress on the induction of apoptosis and the activity of antioxidant enzymes were investigated in HL-60 cells using $H_2O$$_2$and cisplatin which generate oxygen species in the cell. Various concentrations of oxidants were treated to cells and at different incubation time, cells were harvested for assays. Cell viability, morphology by propidium iodide staining and DNA fragmentation by agarose gel electrophoresis were observed to determine whether they induce apoptosis. The activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase was also measured to evaluate the cellular response to the oxidative damage. The results are as follows: $H_2O$$_2$ induced apoptosis at 10 $\mu$M after 6h incubation, while it took 12h for cisplatin. Both oxidants induced the superoxide dismutase activity at a tolerable low concentration. However, at a concentration which causes apoptotic cell death, the enzyme level was dropped markedly at first and then recovered to the normal level after which it declined again, probably due to cell death. On the other hand, changes in the activity of catalase were not significant at most concentrations except the statistically significant decrease at 24h after 10 $\mu$M-$H_2O$$_2$treatment. In this study, $H_2O$$_2$- and cisplatintreated cells showed similar results in apoptotic response and enzyme activities, suggesting that anticancer activity of cisplatin may be related, at least in part, to the production of oxygen free radicals.