Vitamin E radical reaction with antioxidants in rat liver membranes

Antioxidant and anticonvulsant effect of a modified formula of chaihu-longu-muli-tang

Antiepileptic drug therapy in individuals with epilepsy can induce free radical generation and profound lipid peroxidation. Some Chinese herbs with antiepileptic potential show antioxidant effects. We performed an open add-on study of TW970, a modified formula of the Chinese medicine "chaihu-longu-muli-tang", on 20 patients with refractory epilepsy and a seizure frequency of at least four fits per month, and another 20 patients with benign epilepsy and a seizure frequency of less than four fits per month. The control group consisted of 20 age-matched healthy adults. Seizure frequency, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) were investigated in patients with refractory and benign epilepsy before and after four months add-on treatment of TW970. There was a decrease in seizure frequency in refractory epileptics from 13.4 +/- 3.4 to 10.7 +/- 2.5/per month, although the p value was 0.084. Before TW970 add-on treatment, a significant enhancement of lipid peroxidation with increased MDA and Cu,Zn-SOD activities together with decreased GSH were seen in refractory epileptics compared with normal controls. After TW970 add-on treatment of refractory epileptics for four months, normalization of MDA and Cu,Zn-SOD levels was achieved. Before and after TW970 add-on treatment, there were no statistically significant changes of the above-mentioned parameters in the patients with benign epilepsy. These results suggest that TW970 can reduce the seizure frequency in patients with refractory epilepsy and this may be due to the antioxidant effects of the modified formula of chaihu-longu-muli-tang.

Favourable influence of low molecular weight heparin in mitigating the peroxidative membrane damage induced by a cytotoxic agent and an atherogenic diet

The present study is aimed to demonstrate the protective effect of a heparin derivative, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) against erythrocyte membrane injury. Two models serve to induce membrane lipid peroxidative damage, namely a potent cytotoxic agent, adriamycin and a hypercholesterolemic atherogenic diet. Two groups of male Wistar rats (140 +/- 10 g) received a single intravenous injection of adriamycin (ADR, 7.5 mg/kg), while two other groups were fed an atherogenic diet comprising a supplementation of 4% cholesterol, 1% cholic acid and 0.5% thiouracil (CCT diet) for 2 weeks. For each of the above two groups, LMWH (Troparin; 300 microg/day per rat subcutaneously) treatment commenced on day 8 and continued for a week. One group was maintained as the normal control group, and another group that received only LMWH treatment was designated as the LMWH drug control group. Erythrocyte membrane was isolated and assayed for its cholesterol levels, lipid peroxidation and ATPases activity. The activities of antioxidant enzymes were assessed in the haemolysate. The findings of the study were that both adriamycin and the atherogenic diet produced elevated membrane cholesterol levels and lipid peroxidation. The membrane ATPases suffered loss in activity. Accentuated oxidative stress was marked by rise in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase and GPx). LMWH intervention reverted these changes thereby normalizing the membrane composition and function. The membrane protective effect of LMWH is illuminated by this work.

Mitigation of free radical toxicity in hyperoxaluric condition by a novel derivative eicosapentaenoate-lipoate

Lipoic acid (LA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have been shown to ameliorate the changes associated with hyperoxaluria. This prompted us to study the effect of EPA-LA, a new derivative, in experimental urolithiatic condition. Foreign body implantation method followed by supplementation of ammonium oxalate was adopted to induce stone formation in the bladder. Significant depletion in the antioxidant status was observed in the kidney and bladder of stone-forming animals, associated with increased lipid peroxidation. The present observations provide supporting evidence to the hypothesis that free radicals might be involved in causing toxicity in hyperoxaluric condition. The three drugs, namely LA, EPA and EPA-LA had reversed the above changes, but the effect was more pronounced in EPA-LA-treated stone formers. These features highlight the beneficial effect of EPA-LA wherein the potency of two drugs has been combined. The practical outcome of these findings is that the cellular antioxidant defence can be increased by the supplementation of lipoate and its derivative EPA-LA.

Mechanisms of taurine antihypoxic and antioxidant action

The study was undertaken to elucidate the effects of taurine on lipid peroxidation (LP) intensity and membrane Na+, K+-ATPase activity in a hypoxic rat model. It was shown that 3 intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 200 mg/kg of taurine prevented hypoxia-induced lactate accumulation and LP in brain, liver, and heart tissues and prevented the decrease of Na+, K+-ATPase activity in the liver. It is suggested that the effect of taurine on LP could be due to the taurine antiacidotic action as well as to its membrane stabilizing activity.

The efficacy of an antioxidant cocktail on lipid peroxide level and superoxide dismutase activity in aged rat brain and DNA damage in iron-induced epileptogenic foci

Mixed natural antioxidants can be combined in a prophylactic food against age related disease involving reactive oxygen species. beta-Catechin is an antioxidant drink, having free radical scavenging activities. It contains green tea extract as a main component as well as ascorbic acid, sunflower seed extract, dunaliella carotene and natural vitamin E. In the present study, we examined the effect of beta-catechin on lipid peroxide formation and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in aged rat brain and the effect on 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in ipsilateral cortex, 30 min after ferric chloride solution was injected into the left cortex of rats. beta-Catechin solution was orally administered to aged rats and normal rats for 1 month. One-month administration of beta-catechin solution increased SOD activity in the mitochondria fraction of striatum and midbrain and decreased thiobarbiturate reactive substance formation in the cortex and cerebellum of aged rats. It also inhibited 8-OHdG formation in the ipsilateral cortex 30 min after injection of ferric chloride solution. These results suggest that beta-catechin is a suitable prophylactic beverage against age-related neurological diseases associated with reactive oxygen species.

Protective effect of triterpenes on calcium oxalate crystal-induced peroxidative changes in experimental urolithiasis

Naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenes of plant origin have been identified as possessing a wide range of pharmacological effects. Lupeol (Lupa-21,20(29) dien, 3beta-ol) has been found to be efficient in reducing the risk of stone formation in animals by way of preventing crystal-induced tissue damage and dilution of urinary stone-forming constituents. In the present study, two structurally related triterpenes, lupeol and betulin (Lupa-20(29)ene-3,28 diol) were assessed for their antilithiatic effect. Foreign body implantation method followed by supplementation of ammonium oxalate was adapted to induce stone formation in the bladder. This led to elevated lipid peroxidation and depleted antioxidant status in the renal tissues. Both the triterpenes were equally efficient in minimizing crystal-induced renal peroxidative changes measured in terms of malondialdehyde and subsequent tissue damage. The antioxidant status, comprising of the enzymatic and non-enzymatic components, was found to be significantly depleted in the kidney and bladder of stone-forming animals. Both lupeol and betulin were comparable in their ability to restore the thiol status and the antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. The mechanism by which the two compounds render protection against oxalate-induced toxic manifestations and free radical production may involve the inhibition of calcium oxalate crystal aggregation and enhancement of the body defence systems. 2000 Academic Press.

Independent antioxidant action of vitamins E and C in cultured rat hepatocytes intoxicated with allyl alcohol

The relationship between the metabolism of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and ascorbate (vitamin C) was examined in cultured hepatocytes intoxicated with allyl alcohol. Alcohol dehydrogenase rapidly metabolizes allyl alcohol to the potent electrophile acrolein. Acrolein depletes the glutathione (GSH) content of the hepatocytes, thereby sensitizing the cells to the constitutive flux of activated oxygen species. Supplementation of the medium with 1 microM alpha-tocopherol phosphate (alpha-TP) prevents the 85% decline in cellular vitamin E seen after 16-18 hr in culture. In cells supplemented with alpha-TP, allyl alcohol produced a concentration-dependent decline in the cellular content of alpha-tocopherol, and these cells were more resistant to cell killing than hepatocytes not supplemented with alpha-TP. alpha-TP concentrations that raised the cellular alpha-tocopherol above the physiological level completely protected hepatocytes against the killing by allyl alcohol. In cells with physiological alpha-tocopherol, vitamin E declined within 30 min of exposure to allyl alcohol. This decrease paralleled the peroxidation of lipids, but preceded the decrease in cellular ascorbate. Under these conditions, a decline in ascorbate correlated with the loss of cell viability. Cells supplemented with at least 3 mM ascorbate prevented the decline in alpha-tocopherol. However, ascorbate acts as an independent antioxidant at these concentrations. In the absence of killing by allyl alcohol, the loss of cellular ascorbate did not depend on the presence or absence of cellular alpha-tocopherol. These data indicate that vitamins E and C act as separate antioxidants and that ascorbate does not regenerate the tocopheroxyl radical in cultured rat hepatocytes.

Free radical scavenging activity of the Japanese herbal medicine toki-shakuyaku-san (TJ-23) and its effect on superoxide dismutase activity, lipid peroxides, glutamate, and monoamine metabolites in aged rat brain

The free radical scavenging activity of the Japanese herbal medicine, Toki-Shakuyaku-San (TJ-23; TSUMURA & Co., Tokyo, Japan), was examined using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry. TJ-23 scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH), superoxide (O2-), and hydroxyl radicals (.OH) dose-dependently. It also diminished carbon centered radicals (.C) generated by oxidative stress and inhibited thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) formation in mouse cortex homogenate. In addition, the effect of TJ-23 on the concentration of neurotransmitters and TBARS formation, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum of the aged rat brain was studied. The concentrations of the metabolites of monoamines, glutamate and glutamine were decreased by 4 weeks of oral administration of TJ-23. The SOD activity of mitochondrial fraction was increased and TBARS formation was significantly suppressed. These results suggest that TJ-23 has an antioxidant action and would have a prophylactic effect against free radical-mediated neurological diseases associated with aging.

Effect of TJ-960 (a Japanese herbal medicine) on free radical changes within an iron-induced focal epileptogenic region in rat brain measured by in vivo L-band electron spin resonance

In vivo L-band electron spin resonance (ESR) system was used to measure the decay of nitroxide radicals in the living rat cerebrum containing a cortical area with an iron-induced epileptogenic region. Carbamoyl-PROXYL (3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrrolinyloxy) was injected intraperitoneally. The decay of nitroxide radicals in the iron-injected regions at the subacute stage of epileptogenesis was prolonged. The Japanese herbal medicine, sho-saiko-to-go-keishi-ka- shakuyakuto (TJ-960), a compound known to have free radical scavenging activity, inhibited the delay of nitroxide radical decay in the rat cerebrum with an iron-induced epileptic focus following injection of carbamoyl-PROXYL. TJ-960 did not affect the decay of nitroxide radicals in the control rats' brain. These data show that TJ-960 has the scavenging activity for free radicals generated within an iron-induced epileptogenic regions of rat brain.

Formation of stable free radicals from kampo medicines TJ-9, TJ-15, TJ-23, TJ-96, TJ-114 and their antioxidant effect on low density lipoproteins

The Japanese herbal Kampo medicines TJ-9 (A), TJ-15 (B), TJ-23 (C), TJ-114 (D) and TJ-96 (E) were effective (2-5x less than alpha-tocopherol) in inhibiting a copper-induced peroxidation of low density lipoprotein. Kampo medicines dissolved in n-butanol formed stable free radical(s), detected by EPR spectroscopy as a single asymmetric line with g-value g = 2.005. The radical concentration increased in the order: C less than D approximately A approximately E less than B. When the Kampo medicines were oxidized in n-butanol by excess of PbO2 their radical concentration increased 7-15 fold and was in the order C less than D less than A approximately E much less than B. A relationship between the potency of the medicines to inhibit peroxidation of LDL and their ability to form stable free radicals upon oxidation was observed. The medicine which formed more radicals was more efficient in inhibiting peroxidation of LDL. In order to study whether Kampo medicines can reduce alpha-tocopherol radical, the alpha-tocopherol radical was generated by the reaction of alpha-tocopherol with UV irradiated di-tert-butylperoxide and by autooxidation of alpha-tocopherol in n-butanol (25 microliters ml-1) in air. In both systems vitamin-C greater than Kampo B decreased the concentration of the alpha-tocopherol radical and the EPR spectrum of Kampo B stable radical(s) appeared. The effect of other Kampo medicines was not clearly seen since their EPR spectra were superimposed with the spectrum of the alpha-tocopherol radical. The results indicate that Kampo medicines possess electron donor properties and ability to form stable radical(s). The results may contribute to understanding beneficial effects of Kampo medicines in diseases in which free radical damage is suggested.

Decreased carbon centered and hydrogen radicals in skeletal muscle of vitamin E supplemented rats

Carbon centered and hydrogen radicals were examined using electron spin resonance techniques with 5,5 dimethyl-2-pyrroline-1-oxide in the skeletal muscle of rats fed with a control diet and a vitamin E supplemented diet containing alpha tocopherol. Carbon centered and hydrogen radical levels in the white and red muscles and the soleus of these vitamin E treated muscle fibers were decreased. These results suggest that vitamin E directly quenches these free radicals.

Free radical scavenging action of Bio-catalyzer alpha.rho No.11 (Bio-normalyzer) and its by-product

Bio-catalyzer alpha.rho No.11 (Bio-normalyzer) and its by-product are natural health products made by yeast fermentation of glucose, Carica papaya Linn., Pennisetum pupureum Schum., and Sechium edule Swartz. Their effects on free radicals were examined by electron spin resonance spectrometry using spin trapping agent 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide (DMPO). It was observed that both Bio-catalyzer and its by-product scavenged 95% of DMPO-OH spin adducts (89 x 10(15) spins/ml) generated by FeSO4-H2O2-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid system at 45.45 mg/ml each. Five percent of DMPO-O2- spin adducts (27 x 10(15) spins/ml) generated by hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system and 11% of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals (7 x 10(15) spins/ml) were quenched using 25 mg/ml of Bio-catalyzer while 5% of superoxide and nil DPPH radicals were scavenged by its by-product. Vivo tests showed that oral administration of 1-g/kg body weight of Bio-catalyzer significantly inhibited thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formation, which is an index of lipid peroxidation, in the FeCl3-induced epileptic focus of rats. These findings suggest that Bio-catalyzer or its by-product may be useful health foods against neural lipid peroxidation, traumatic epilepsy and aging.