OBJECTIVE: To investigate the eliminating ability of catechin to eliminate O2-* and *OH. METHODS: The ability of catechin to clear away O2-* and *OH was respectively measured by faintness chemiluminescence and spin trapping assay. RESULTS: IC50 that catechin eliminated O2-* and *OH was 6.16, 0.59 g/mL respectively, and the eliminating ability of catechin was much stronger than that of the extract from liquorice, rosemary, grape pip, giant knotweed and ginkgo leaf. CONCLUSION Compared with several important natural plants of antioxidants, the eliminating ability of cathechin is the best.
Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Catechin ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Hydroxyl Radical ; metabolism ; Luminescent Measurements ; Superoxides ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the scavenging effects of Lu-Duo-Wei, thiourea, superoxide dismutase, and sodium azide on carbon disulfide-induced generation of hydroxyl radicals.

METHODSPhenanthroline-CuSO(4)-Vit C-H(2)O(2) chemiluminescence system (PHEN system) containing alcohol was established to probe the influence of various concentrations of carbon disulfide on hydroxyl radicals emission intensity and the scavenging effects of Lu-Duo-Wei and other antioxidants on carbon disulfide-induced hydroxyl radicals were observed.

RESULTSThe average emission intensity of PHEN system containing alcohol appeared lower luminescence [91.03 x 10(3) (cp6s)] and longer time (75 s) to get the peak than the system without alcohol [96.11 x 10(3) (cp6s), 55 s]. The specific scavenger of hydroxyl radical, thiourea, showed clear inhibitory effect on the system. Carbon disulfide in the range of 40 - 160 mmol/L promoted the generation of hydroxyl radical, however, this effect could be efficiently inhibited by thiourea. 160 mmol/L carbon disulfide in PHEN system without copper seemed as an activator to promote the luminescence, while in PHEN system withdrawing phenanthroline appeared some weak action of luminescence agent at low concentration. Meanwhile, Lu-Duo-Wei may efficiently scavenge hydroxyl radicals induced by carbon disulfide in PHEN system but superoxide dismutase and sodium azide had little effects on the system.

CONCLUSIONCarbon disulfide may induce PHEN system to generate hydroxyl radicals and Lu-Duo-Wei may efficiently scavenge these free radicals and play an important role in protection against oxidative injury induced by carbon disulfide.

Carbon Disulfide ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Hydroxyl Radical ; antagonists & inhibitors ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Luminescent Measurements ; Phenanthrolines ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; pharmacology ; Thiourea ; pharmacology

To investigate roles of nitric oxide (NO) signal in accumulations of phenolic acids in abscisic.acid (ABA)-induced Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy roots, S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots were treated with different concentrations of sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-an exogenous NO donor, for 6 days, and contents of phenolic acids in the hairy roots are determined. Then with treatment of ABA and NO scavenger (2-(4-carboxy-2-phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1- oxyl-3-oxide, c-PTIO) or NO synthase inhibitor (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, L-NAME), contents of phenolic acids and expression levels of three key genes involved in phenolic acids biosynthesis were detected. Phenolic acids production in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots was most significantly improved by 100 µmoL/L SNP. Contents of RA and salvianolic acid B increased by 3 and 4 folds. ABA significantly improved transcript levels of PAL (phenylalanine ammonia lyase), TAT (tyrosine aminotransferase) and RAS (rosmarinic acid synthase), and increased phenolic acids accumulations. However, with treatments of ABA+c-PTIO or ABA+L-NAME, accumulations of phenolic acids and expression levels of the three key genes were significantly inhibited. Both NO and ABA can increase accumulations of phenolic acids in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots. NO signal probably mediates the ABA-induced phenolic acids production.
Abscisic Acid ; pharmacology ; Benzofurans ; metabolism ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Hydroxybenzoates ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; metabolism ; Tyrosine Transaminase ; metabolism

AIMTo establish a method for screening active substance with scavenging effects on superoxide anion in vitro by designed superoxide dismutase biosensor.

METHODSThe enzyme sensor was built by connecting the immobilized CuZnSOD with optical oxygen sensor through a special way. Superoxide anions were generated by auto-oxidation of pyrogallol. The auto-oxidation speed was examined before and after adding samples into the system, and the Vit C having the scavenging radical activities was served as a positive control.

RESULTSThe limit of biosensor detection was 7.0 U in activity, and lifetime of the immobilized enzyme in the reaction-cell was above 2 weeks. The scavenging effects on superoxide radicals of fifteen active substance were studied in vitro by the sensor, and some of them presented scavenging activities.

CONCLUSIONThe signal from biosensor is stable, easy to be determined, and the kinetic information on scavenging superoxide radicals could be obtained directly. The biosensor system can be used for screening drugs simply and rapidly.

Ascorbic Acid ; metabolism ; Benzaldehydes ; metabolism ; Biosensing Techniques ; Caffeic Acids ; metabolism ; Enzymes, Immobilized ; metabolism ; Free Radical Scavengers ; metabolism ; Pyrogallol ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Sijunzi decoction (SJZD) on malondialdehyde (MDA) content and telomerase activity in heart, liver and brain tissues of D-galactose (D-gal) induced aging model mice.

METHODSD-gal aging mice model was established by cervicodorsal region subcutaneous injection with 10% D-gal once a day for six successive months. The model mice in the low-, middle- and high-dose SJZD treated groups were treated with SJZD in a dose of 6 g/kg, 12 g/kg, 24 g/kg per day respectively in the volume of 0.2 ml/10 g for 6 successive weeks. While the mice in the normal control group (NCG, non-modeled) and the model control group (MCG, modeled but untreated) were treated with distilled water instead. The MDA content and telomerase activity in heart, liver and brain tissues of mice was measured with TBA colorimetric method and PCR-ELISA respectively.

RESULTSIn MCG, the MDA content in heart, liver and brain tissues was significantly higher (P < 0.01), and the telomerase activity in liver and heart tissues was significantly lower (P < 0.01) but that in brain tissue was insignificant different to that in NCG (P > 0.05) respectively. As compared with MCG, the MDA content was significantly lower in the three SJZD treated group (P < 0.01). In comparison of telomerase activity between MCG and SJZD treated groups, it was shown that in heart tissue, there was an increased trend of the activity in the low-dose and middle-dose group, but with statistical insignificance (P > 0.05), but it did show a significant increase in the high-dose group (P < 0.05); in liver tissue no significant difference was shown between the three SJZD treated groups and MCG (P > 0.05); as for that in brain tissue, significant increase only shown in the high-dose group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSJZD can antagonize free radical injury, decrease the MDA content of heart, liver and brain in D-gal aging mice, and increase the telomerase activity in heart and brain tissues but with no effect on that in liver tissue.

Aging ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Galactose ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Telomerase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the in vitro antioxidant interaction of different preparations and proportions of Danggui-Chuanxiong drug pair in the DPPH free radical scavenging rate with the response surface methodology.

METHODThe 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging rate method was adopted for determining the antioxidant activity of extracts from Danggui-Chuanxiong with 10 proportions and three extraction processes. The response surface methodology was used to determine the parameters of the dose-effect curve and establish a three-dimensional response surface model. The three-dimensional response surface graph was constructed with Matlab software.

RESULTAll of the 30 samples with different proportions and preparations had antioxidant effect in scavenging free radicals and a remarkable dose-effect relationship. Their water extracts had a narrow synergistic range, with only spot distribution. Their antagonist ranges were districted in six bands of various widths. The synergistic ranges of ethanol extracts were districted in small bands, with the antagonist ranges scattered in points. The synergistic ranges of their water-alcohol extracts were distributed in three bands, with their antagonist ranges scattered in points. In short, the water-alcohol extracts showed a wider synergistic range than ethanol extracts, followed by water-extracts. All of the three extraction processes showed no obvious synergistic and antagonist effects.

CONCLUSIONThe quantitative study on the interaction of traditional Chinese medicines with different compatibilities with the response surface methodology provides reference of thoughts and methods for relevant studies.

Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Biphenyl Compounds ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Synergism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; Free Radical Scavengers ; metabolism ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Picrates ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antioxidant activities of different chemical constituents from Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and their protection against xanthine (XA)/xanthine oxidase (XO)-induced toxicity in PC12 cells.

METHODSThe compounds of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge were isolated by chromatography and the structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data interpretation. Their antioxidant activities were detected by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities in a cell-free system. Meanwhile, the effects against XA/XO-induced toxicity were assessed using MTT assay in PC12 cells.

RESULTSTen principal constituents were isolated and identified as formononetin (I), ononin (II), calycosin (III), calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (IV), 9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan-3-O-beta-D-glucoside (V), adenosine (VI), pinitol (VII), daucosterol (VIII), beta-sitoster (IX) and saccharose (X) from Astragalus mongholicus Bunge. The compounds I, III, and IV scavenged DPPH free radicals in vitro. Formononetin and calycosin were found to inhibit XA/XO-induced cell injury significantly, with an estimated EC50 of 50 ng/mL.

CONCLUSIONCompound II, VI, and VII are first reported in this plant. Calycosin exhibits the most potent antioxidant activity both in the cell-free system and in the cell system.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Free Radicals ; metabolism ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Rats ; Xanthine ; toxicity ; Xanthine Oxidase ; toxicity

Acute Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antipyrine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Free Radical Scavengers ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years, many studies have revealed its prominent neuroprotection function. The active ingredients in Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis could protect the nervous system in a multi-path and multi-target manner. Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis shows the neuroprotective effect by resisting oxidation, scavenging free radicals, modulating neurotransmitters and their related receptors, regulating the inflammatory factors and their related pathways, attenuating neuron apoptosis, reducing intracellular Ca2+ overloads and mitigating neurodegeneration. In this paper, the authors summarized the advance in studies on neuroprotective mechanisms of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis.
Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Uncaria ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the apoptosis rate and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level induced by chrysotile fibers in BEAS-2B cells and the blockage effect of free radical scavengers on the induction of chrysotile fibers.

METHODSThe cell survival rate, the morphological variation of BEAS-2B cells, the apoptosis rate, the expression levels of gene caspase-3 and the ROS generation level were measured by using trypan blue phagocytosis, hematoxylin and eosin staining, oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation assay, FCM, RT-PCR and fluorescent probe DCFH-DA in the suspension (0, 5, 10, 20, 100 and 200 microg/cm(2)) and the filtrate (0, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1600 microg/ml) of chrysotile fibers. Addition of free radical scavengers such as catalase, dimethyl sulfoxide and mannitol prevented the radical generation and gene expression.

RESULTSSurvival rates of BEAS2B cells treated by the suspension (0, 5 and 10 microg/cm(2)) and the filtrate (0, 100 and 200 microg/ml) of chrysotile fibers for 24 hours were above 90%. The apoptotic rates of BEAS-2B were increased with the concentration of suspension and filtrate from chrysotile fibers (P < 0.05). Otherwise, caspase-3 mRNA and ROS were stimulated by chrysotile fibers. Free radical scavengers such as CAT, DMSO and mannitol could reduce these stimulations. The ROS blocking rate of suspension of chrysotile fibers was 23.7%, 21.6% and 11.2% respectively, and that of filtrate was 37.9%, 40.3% and 10.6% respectively.

CONCLUSIONApoptosis is induced in BEAS-2B cells exposed to chrysotile fibers suspension and filtrate. Generation of ROS plays an important role in chrysotile fibers-induced BEAS-2B cell apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Asbestos, Serpentine ; toxicity ; Cell Line ; Drug Antagonism ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism