Biofactors - Volume 29, issue 2-3

Authors: Jin, Hua | Kim, Hyun-Woo | Xu, Cheng-Xiong | Kwon, Jung-Taek | Hwang, Soon-Kyung | Lee, Eun-Sun | Chang, Seung-Hee | Park, Sung-Jin | Noh, Mi-Suk | Woo, Min-Ah | Yu, Kyeong-Nam | Lee, Hu-Jang | Choi, Joon-Weon | Choi, Don-Ha | Cho, Myung-Haing

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Previously we reported that cadalene extracted from Zelkova serrata inhibited lung tumorigenesis in mice. However, the precise mechanism has not yet investigated. Here, we examined the effects of cadalene on signal pathways important for apoptosis, cell cycle, and protein translation in lung cancer cells. Our results showed that cadalene suppressed the expression of Akt and its phosphor-forms through controlling PI3K and PTEN. Cadalene also induced apoptosis through facilitating pro-apoptotic protein expression. In addition, …cadalene caused cell cycle arrest and decreased mTOR-mediated protein translation. Taken together, cadalene may be developed as a lung cancer therapeutic agent in the future. Show more

Keywords: Cadalene, lung cancer, apoptosis, cell cycle, protein translation

Citation: BioFactors, vol. 29, no. 2-3, pp. 67-75, 2007

Authors: Dabbaghmanesh, Mohammad Hossein | Sadegholvaad, Abdolsamad | Ejtehadi, Fardad | Omrani, Gholamhossein

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Selenium deficiency can have adverse effect on thyroid metabolism and response to iodine supplementation. The aim of this study was to determine relationship between prevalence of goiter, thyroid hormone profile, urinary iodine and serum selenium concentrations in Iranian schoolchildren. In a cross- sectional study, 1188 schoolchildren in the age group of 8–13 years were evaluated for goiter prevalence. Urine and serum samples were collected from 500 children and assayed for urinary iodine concentration, thyroid …hormone profile and serum selenium concentration. The overall goiter prevalence was 39.6% and the median urinary iodine excretion, indicated to an adequate iodine intake. The mean serum selenium concentration was 119.1 ± 31 μg/l with significant difference between boys and girls (108.4 ± 26.2 μg/l vs 127.7 ± 32.1 μg/l). An increase in free T4 concentration was observed in those with a lower selenium level and there was a significant relationship between the presence or absence of goiter and serum selenium concentration. Selenium supplementation may be an advisable measure to optimize thyroid hormone metabolism and decrease the prevalence of goiter in schoolchildren with low serum selenium concentration. Show more

Keywords: Selenium, goiter, schoolchildren, southern Iran

Citation: BioFactors, vol. 29, no. 2-3, pp. 77-82, 2007

Authors: Niklowitz, Petra | Wiesel, Thomas | Andler, Werner | Menke, Thomas

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is used by the body as an endogenous antioxidant. This property combined with its essential function in mitochondrial energy production suggests that it may have therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. As part of the body's antioxidant defence against free radical production, CoQ10 concentrations may change during anti-cancer chemotherapy. Our study measured CoQ10 concentration in the plasma of 27 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) at the time of diagnosis, …during induction (protocol ALL-BFM 2000), and post induction treatment. The starting values were compared to the CoQ10 concentrations in 92 healthy children. The total CoQ10 concentration and its redox status were measured by HPLC using electrochemical detection and internal standardisation. While the CoQ10 concentration in the plasma of children with ALL was within a normal range at the time of diagnosis (0.99 ± 0.41 pmol/μl), a drastic increase was observed during induction treatment (2.19 ± 1.01 pmol/μl on day 33). This increase was accompanied by shift in the redox status in favour of the reduced form of CoQ10. The increase in CoQ10 concentration during induction treatment may be attributed to the activation of a natural antioxidative defence mechanism, endocrine influence on CoQ10 synthesis from steroid treatment, or a shift in CoQ10 from the damaged cells to the plasma after cell lysis. Show more

Keywords: Coenzyme Q10, plasma, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, childhood

Citation: BioFactors, vol. 29, no. 2-3, pp. 83-89, 2007

Authors: Correia, Helena S. | Batista, Maria Teresa | Dinis, Teresa C.P.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Agrimonia eupatoria L. (agrimony) is a medicinal plant largely used in traditional medicine. Recently, phytochemical studies on an agrimony hydro-alcoholic extract and a polyphenol-enriched fraction obtained from it were carried out. The fraction was found to possess a high concentration of flavan-3-ols, flavonols, flavones and phenolic acids. So, the main purpose of this study was to search out, the extract and fraction antioxidant potential and scavenging activity against the reactive species formed during inflammation …and to establish a relationship between such activity and the phenolic composition. Results showed that both the extract and the fraction promptly reacted with DPPH denoting a general radical scavenger activity and a potential antioxidant capacity. They also reacted with superoxide anion, peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals as well as with the oxidant species, hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorous acid and peroxynitrite, strengthening their radical scavenger and antioxidant activities. In most assays, the polyphenol-enriched fraction was more efficient, pointing to a significant contribution of the polyphenols content to those activities. Our data suggest that the significant scavenging capacity of reactive species by polyphenols from Agrimonia eupatoria L., could be a mechanism of its anti-inflammatory activity. Show more

Keywords: Agrimonia eupatoria L., flavonoids, scavenging activity, reactive species, anti-inflammatory activity

Citation: BioFactors, vol. 29, no. 2-3, pp. 91-104, 2007

Authors: Choi, Inwook | Kim, Yoonsook | Park, Yonggon | Seog, Homoon | Choi, Heedon

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Soygerm isoflavones were subjected to fermentation by Bifidobacterium breve. Most of isoflavone glycosides (daidzin, glycitin and genistin) in soygerms were deglycosylated to their corresponding isoflavone aglycones (daidzein, glycitein and genistein) within 24 h fermentation. Fermented isoflavones significantly inhibited pancreatic lipase activity in fermentation-time and dosage dependant manner. When fermented isoflavones were orally administered with olive oil to SD rats, the triglyceride (TG) level in plasma after 2 h of ingestion was …significantly lower than the control of only olive oil administered group whereas no such significant decrease in plasma TG was observed in unfermented isoflavone administered group. This result indicates that oral administration of fermented isoflavones effectively suppressed absorption of excessive lipid into a body. Addition of either unfermented or fermented soygerm isoflavones effectively inhibited adipocyte differentiation from 3T3-L1 in a dose dependent manner. In conclusion, B. breve successfully converted soygerm isoflavones into their aglycones, and these aglycones were more effective in suppressing lipid absorption as well as adipocytes differentiation than their glycosides. Show more

Keywords: Anti-obesity, soygerm, isoflavones, aglycones, fermentation, Bifidobacterium breve

Citation: BioFactors, vol. 29, no. 2-3, pp. 105-112, 2007

Authors: Yasui, Hironobu | Asanuma, Taketoshi | Watanabe, Yasuko | Waki, Kenji | Inanami, Osamu | Kuwabara, Mikinori

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Oxidative damage due to ischemia/reperfusion has been implicated as one of the leading causes for delayed neuronal cell death in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including stroke. The purpose of this research was to investigate whether oral administration of a fermented grain food mixture (AOB®) might offer protective effects against ischemia/reperfusion-induced neuronal damage in Mongolian gerbils, a model known for delayed neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region. Histological analysis revealed that …AOB administration ad libitum for 3 weeks (preoperative administration) and 1 week (postoperative administration) dose-dependently suppressed the induction of transient ischemia/reperfusion-induced neuronal cell death. TUNEL assay also revealed that AOB suppressed it by inhibiting the induction of apoptosis. A significant increase of superoxide dismutase-like (SOD-like) activity was observed in the hippocampal CA1 region of the AOB-treated gerbil. Furthermore, immunoblot analysis showed that AOB administration down-regulated the expression of heat shock proteins HSP27 and HSP70 in the same region. These results indicated that oral administration of AOB protected against ischemia/reperfusion-induced brain injury by minimizing oxidative damage via its SOD-like activity and inhibiting apoptosis. Show more

Keywords: Fermented grain food, antioxidant, ischemia/reperfusion, neuronal death, gerbil

Citation: BioFactors, vol. 29, no. 2-3, pp. 113-121, 2007

Authors: Leontowicz, Maria | Leontowicz, Hanna | Jastrzebski, Zenon | Jesion, Iwona | Haruenkit, Ratiporn | Poovarodom, Sumitra | Katrich, Elena | Tashma, Zev | Drzewiecki, Jerzy | Trakhtenberg, Simon | Gorinstein, Shela

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The aim of this investigation was to assess the nutritional and health properties of Mon Thong durian cultivar at different stages of ripening. The assessment was carried out in vitro and in vivo. The contents of dietary fibers, minerals and trace metals at different stages of ripening were comparable. Total polyphenols (mgGAE/100 g FW) and flavonoids (mg CE/100 gFW) in ripe durian (358.8 ± 31.4 and 95.4 ± 9.3) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than …in mature (216.1 ± 1 and 39.9 ± 3.8) and overripe (283.3 ± 26.2 and 53.5 ± 4.9). Antioxidant capacity (μMTE/100 g FW) in total polyphenol extracts of ripe durian measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and [2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] (ABTS) assays (259.4 ± 23.6 and 2341.8 ± 93.2) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of mature (151.6 ± 15.2 and 1394.6 ± 41.5) and overripe (201.7 ± 19.4 and 1812.2 ± 61.4) samples. The correlation coefficients between the bioactive compounds in different stages of ripening and their antioxidant capacities were high (R^{2} = 0.99). Then 35 male Wistar rats were divided into 5 dietary groups each of 7 and named Control, Chol, Chol/Mature, Chol/Ripe and Chol/Overripe. During 30 days of the experiment the rats of all 5 groups were fed basal diet (BD), which included wheat starch, casein, soybean oil, vitamin and mineral mixtures. The rats of the Control group were fed a BD only. To the BD of the Chol group was added 1% of cholesterol. The BD of the Chol/Mature, Chol/Ripe and Chol/Overripe groups was supplemented with 1% of cholesterol and 5% of the mature, ripe and overripe durian as freeze-dried powder, respectively. Diets containing ripe and to a lesser degree mature and overripe durian significantly hindered the rise in plasma lipids and also hindered a decrease in plasma antioxidant activity. The nitrogen retention in rats of the Chol/Ripe group was significantly higher (63.6%, P < 0.05) than in other diet groups and the level of the plasma glucose remained normal. A decrease in fibrinogen fraction with ripe durian included in rat's diets was shown by electrophoretic separation. These changes were detected mostly in the low molecular weight proteins of rat's serum. Histological examination of aorta showed only slight differences in the tissue. In conclusion, ripe durian contains higher quantity of bioactive compounds, has higher antioxidant capacity and nutritional value. It positively affects the plasma lipid profile, the plasma glucose and the antioxidant activity in rats fed cholesterol enriched diets. Therefore, the ripe durian supplemented diet could be beneficial for patient suffering from hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus. < Show more

Keywords: Ripe, overripe and mature durian, bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, nutritional value, rats, plasma lipid levels and antioxidant activity

Citation: BioFactors, vol. 29, no. 2-3, pp. 123-136, 2007

Authors: Dammak, Ines | Abdallah, Fatma Ben | Boudaya, Sonia | Besbes, Souhail | Keskes, Leila | El Gaied, Amel | Turki, Hamida | Attia, Hammadi | Hentati, Basma

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The skin is chronically exposed to pro-oxidant agents, leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To protect the skin against an over-load of oxidant species, we studied the chemoprotective effect of one new natural product: "date seed oil: DSO". This oil may serve as a potential source of natural antioxidants such as phenols and tocopherols. Here, the antioxidative potential of DSO was compared that of to extra virgin olive oil. Adult human …skin was maintained in organ culture in the presence of the DSO and extra virgin olive oil before the addition of hydrogen peroxide (H_{2} O_{2}) , in order to prevent the tissue from its oxidizing effects. Skin specimens were collected for histology and for melanin studies. In the investigated model system, DSO protects skin against oxidative injuries. It has a significant chemoprotective effect, by inhibition of damage caused by H_{2} O_{2} compared with specimens without such addition endowing with a radical scavenging ability. The various components from DSO were much more potent antioxidant and more free radical scavengers of the H_{2} O_{2} than those of olive oil. Our study shows that topical DSO treatment of the skin stimulates events in the epidermis leading to repair skin damage possibly due to antioxidant synergisms. Show more

Keywords: Date seed oil, organ culture, human skin, oxidative stress

Citation: BioFactors, vol. 29, no. 2-3, pp. 137-145, 2007

Authors: Yadav, Amit Singh | Bhatnagar, D.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The antioxidants in foods play an important role in preventing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Some of the dietary constituents, commonly used in Indian foods such as cloves (Syzygium aromaticum), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), mace (aril of Myristica fragrans) and greater cardamom (Amomum subulatum), were selected as the test samples to find their effect on the inhibition of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in rat liver homogenate. Three different oxidant systems were used to induce LPO. The …results show that all the spices have antioxidant activities at various concentrations. None of the spices showed prooxidant properties. The effect of spices on the inhibition of LPO was concentration dependent. Cloves, mace and cardamom inhibited the initiation as well as propagation phases of FeCl_{3} induced LPO, while licorice inhibited the initiation phase only. The reducing power and the superoxide scavenging activity of spices was also measured in vitro. The reducing power of various spices increased with concentration. The percentage inhibition of superoxide radical generation by the spices was also observed to be concentration dependent. The results show that spices used in the present study have significant ability to inhibit LPO due to their polyphenol content, strong reducing power and superoxide radical scavenging activity. Cloves showed the highest antioxidant activity probably due to the higher polyphenol content as compared to other spices. Show more

Keywords: Lipid peroxidation, iron, initiation, propagation, spices

Citation: BioFactors, vol. 29, no. 2-3, pp. 147-157, 2007