Hepatoprotective and antioxidative properties of Salacia reticulata: preventive effects of phenolic constituents on CCl4-induced liver injury in mice

Biochemical, morphological and molecular assessments of n butanol fraction of Phoenix dactylifera L. following exposure to inorganic mercury on the liver of Wistar rats

BACKGROUND

Mercury chloride (HgCl2) damages tissues it comes in contact with in sufficient concentration. This study evaluated the protective effects of n-butanol fraction of Phoenix dactylifera (BFPD) on mercury-triggered liver toxicity in Wistar rats. 25 male rats were divided into 5 groups of 5 rats each. Group I was administered 2 ml/kg of distilled water; group II was administered 5 mg/kg of HgCl2; group III was administered 500 mg/kg of BFPD + 5 mg/kg of HgCl2; group IV was administered 1000 mg/kg of BFPD + 5 mg/kg of HgCl2, while group V was administered 100 mg/kg of silymarin + 5 mg/kg of HgCl2. orally for 2 weeks. The rats were euthanized and liver tissue blood samples were collected for histological, histochemical, stereological, immunohistochemical, molecular, and biochemical studies.

RESULTS

The results revealed that HgCl2 induced oxidative stress in the rats evident by histoarchitectural distortions and altered levels of liver enzymes, proteins, and oxidative stress biomarkers when compared to the control. However, BFPD treatment restored these changes. Glutathione peroxidase levels decreased (p < 0.05) in the HgCl2-treated group when compared to the control and BFPD-treated groups. HgCl2 group revealed reduced reactivity with histochemical and immunohistochemical stains (Masson's Trichrome and B cell Lymphoma 2) when compared to the control, with a significant decrease in quantified liver Bcl-2 stain intensity when compared to the silymarin-treated group. BFPD administration revealed normal staining intensity comparable to the control. HgCl2 administration revealed a remarked decrease in the number of hepatocytes when compared to the control, BFPD, and silymarin groups. BFPD preserved (p < 0.05) the stereological features when compared to the HgCl2-treated group. GPx activity in the liver decreased (p < 0.05) with HgCl2 administration when compared to the control and silymarin-treated groups. BFPD attenuated GPx gene activity to levels similar to the control indicating some level of amelioration against HgCl2-induced toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

The ability of BFPD to mitigate HgCl2 triggered liver alterations could be attributed to the antioxidant property of its flavonoid content. Therefore, BFPD may be a potential candidate for treating and managing liver-induced mercury intoxication.

Pleiotropic effects of Salacia reticulata and Simvastatin on oxidative stress and insulin resistance in a rat model

BACKGROUND

The present study investigated the effects of Salacia reticulata and simvastatin on oxidative stress and insulin resistance in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. We compared the protective effect of a methanolic extract of Salacia reticulata (SR) with simvastatin (SVS) in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following five different groups: control (C), C+SR, HFD, HFD+SR, and HFD+SVS. High-fat diet fed rats showed hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia, dyslipidemia, and hypoadiponectinemia after 90 days. Treatment of high-fat diet fed rats with SR/SVS significantly (p < 0.05) reduced high-fat diet induced increases in plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and decreased high- density lipoprotein (HDL) accompanied by an increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protein oxidation. In addition, a significant decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and enzymes of the polyol pathway was observed in rats fed high-fat diet. SR was found to be more effective than SVS. Moreover, infiltration of inflammatory cells and fibrosis in the liver of high-fat diet fed rats by SR/SVS were also prevented.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study confirms that SR/SVS may be a new and promising remedial approach because of its beneficial effects on the pathophysiological processes of obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Liver-specific drug delivery platforms: Applications for the treatment of alcohol-associated liver disease

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a common chronic liver disease and major contributor to liver disease-related deaths worldwide. Despite its pre-valence, there are few effective pharmacological options for the severe stages of this disease. While much pre-clinical research attention is paid to drug development in ALD, many of these experimental therapeutics have limitations such as poor pharmacokinetics, poor efficacy, or off-target side effects due to systemic administration. One means of addressing these limitations is through liver-targeted drug delivery, which can be accomplished with different platforms including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, exosomes, bacteria, and adeno-associated viruses, among others. These platforms allow drugs to target the liver passively or actively, thereby reducing systemic circulation and increasing the ‘effective dose’ in the liver. While many studies, some clinical, have applied targeted delivery systems to other liver diseases such as viral hepatitis or hepatocellular carcinoma, only few have investigated their efficacy in ALD. This review provides basic information on these liver-targeting drug delivery platforms, including their benefits and limitations, and summarizes the current research efforts to apply them to the treatment of ALD in rodent models. We also discuss gaps in knowledge in the field, which when addressed, may help to increase the efficacy of novel therapies and better translate them to humans.

Hepatoprotective Plants from Bangladesh: A Biophytochemical Review and Future Prospect

Liver diseases are quite prevalant in many densely populated countries, including Bangladesh. The liver and its hepatocytes are targeted by virus and microbes, as well as by chemical environmental toxicants, causing wide-spread disruption of metabolic fuctions of the human body, leading to death from end-stage liver diseases. The aim of this review is to systematically explore and record the potential of Bangladeshi ethnopharmacological plants to treat liver diseases with focus on their sources, constituents, and therapeutic uses, including mechanisms of actions (MoA). A literature survey was carried out using Pubmed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases with articles reported until July, 2020. A total of 88 Bangladeshi hepatoprotective plants (BHPs) belonging to 47 families were listed in this review, including Euphorbiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Compositae families contained 20% of plants, while herbs were the most cited (51%) and leaves were the most consumed parts (23%) as surveyed. The effect of BHPs against different hepatotoxins was observed via upregulation of antioxidant systems and inhibition of lipid peroxidation which subsequently reduced the elevated liver biomarkers. Different active constituents, including phenolics, curcuminoids, cucurbitanes, terpenoids, fatty acids, carotenoids, and polysaccharides, have been reported from these plants. The hepatoameliorative effect of these constituents was mainly involved in the reduction of hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation through activation of Nrf2/HO-1 and inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathways. In summary, BHPs represent a valuable resource for hepatoprotective lead therapeutics which may offer new alternatives to treat liver diseases.

A review of antidiabetic active thiosugar sulfoniums, salacinol and neokotalanol, from plants of the genus Salacia

During our studies characterizing functional substances from food resources for the prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases, we isolated the active constituents, salacinol (1) and neokotalanol (4), and related thiosugar sulfoniums, from the roots and stems of the genus Salacia plants [Celastraceae (Hippocrateaceae)] such as Salacia reticulata Wight, S. oblonga Wall., and S. chinensis L., and observed their antidiabetic effects. These plant materials have been used traditionally in Ayurvedic medicine as a specific remedy at the early stage of diabetes, and have been extensively consumed in Japan, the United States, and other countries as a food supplement for the prevention of obesity and diabetes. Here, we review our studies on the antidiabetic effects of plants from the genus Salacia, from basic chemical and pharmacological research to their application and development as new functional food ingredients.

Anti-melanogenic activity of salacinol by inhibition of tyrosinase oligosaccharide processing

Hyperpigmentation that manifests through melasma and solar lentigo (age spots), although mostly harmless for health, bothers many people. Controlling the rate-limiting activity of tyrosinase is most effective for suppressing excessive melanin formation and accordingly recent research has focused on the maturation of tyrosinase. Salacia, a medicinal plant, has been used to treat diabetes in India and Sri Lanka. Salacia extract reportedly contains components that inhibit the activity of α-glucosidase. Salacinol, the active ingredient in Salacia extract, has unique thiosugar sulphonium sulphate inner salt structure. Here, we observed that the salacinol component of Salacia extract possesses anti-melanogenic activity in comparison to various existing whitening agents. Although the anti-melanogenic mechanism of salacinol is presumably medicated by inhibition of tyrosinase activity, which is often found in existing whitening agents, salacinol did not inhibit tyrosinase activity in vitro. Analysis of the intracellular state of tyrosinase showed a decrease in the mature tyrosinase form due to inhibition of N-linked oligosaccharide processing. Salacinol inhibited the processing glucosidase I/II, which are involved in the initial stage of N-linked glycosylation. Owing to high activity, low cytotoxicity and high hydrophilicity, salacinol is a promising candidate compound in whitening agents aimed for external application on skin.

Phospholipid complex-loaded self-assembled phytosomal soft nanoparticles: evidence of enhanced solubility, dissolution rate, ex vivo permeability, oral bioavailability, and antioxidant potential of mangiferin

In this study, self-assembled phytosomal soft nanoparticles encapsulated with phospholipid complex (MPLC SNPs) using a combination of solvent evaporation and nanoprecipitation method were developed to enhance the biopharmaceutical and antioxidant potential of MGN. The mangiferin-Phospholipon® 90H complex (MPLC) was produced by the solvent evaporation method and optimized using central composite design (CCD). The optimized MPLC was converted into MPLC SNPs using the nanoprecipitation method. The physicochemical and functional characterization of MPLC and MPLC SNPs was carried out by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffractometer (PXRD), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR), solubility, in vitro dissolution, oral bioavailability, and in vivo antioxidant studies. A CCD formed stable MPLC with the optimal values of 1:1.76, 50.55 °C, and 2.02 h, respectively. Characterization studies supported the formation of a complex. MPLC and MPLC SNPs both enhanced the aqueous solubility (~ 32-fold and ~ 39-fold), dissolution rate around ~ 98% via biphasic release pattern, and permeation rate of ~ 97%, respectively, compared with MGN and MGN SNPs. Liver function tests and in vivo antioxidant studies exhibited that MPLC SNPs significantly preserved the CCl₄-intoxicated liver marker and antioxidant marker enzymes, compared with MGN SNPs. The oral bioavailability of MPLC SNPs was increased appreciably up to ~ 10-fold by increasing the main pharmacokinetic parameters such as C_max, T_max, and AUC. Thus, MPLC SNPs could be engaged as a nanovesicle delivery system for improving the biopharmaceutical and antioxidant potential of MGN. Graphical abstract.

Ameliorative effect of Homalium zeylanicum against carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress and liver injury in rats

Objective is to evaluate the ameliorative effects of Homalium zeylanicum in carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress and liver injury in rats. To establish the nature of antioxidant principles in the bioactive ethyl acetate fractions of bark (HZEB) and leaf (HZEL); oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and cell-based antioxidant protection in erythrocytes (CAP-e) assays were performed. From acute toxicity study, HZEB and HZEL at 200 and 300 mg/kg b.w., were relatively safe at their effective doses. The degree of protection was measured by using biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) and total protein (TP) contents. Hepatic markers e.g. thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were evaluated along with histopathological observations of liver tissues. Both fractions showed significant improvement in restoring SGOT, SGPT, ALP, TB and TP level. TBARS, SOD, CAT and GSH levels were significantly altered towards normal values. Both fractions at 300 mg/kg showed remarkable improvement in liver markers as compared to silymarin. Histopathological examinations showed reduction in hepatic necrosis and appeared normal hepatocellular architecture in HZEB and HZEL treated groups. In CAP-e assay, IC₅₀ of HZEB (54.66 mg/mL) was higher than HZEL (60.88 mg/mL) and in ORAC assay, AUC of HZEB and HZEL were 33.46, 21.29 respectively and results were comparable with trolox. GC-MS and LC-MS analysis identified a total no. of 44 compounds. Few compounds were identified as bioactive compounds e.g. catechol (7.23%), tetraacetyl-d-xylonic nitrile (3%), oleic acid (0.49%), 2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-phenol (3.71%), 3,4,5-trimethoxy-phenol (0.31%), and conifer alcohol (7.41%). The presence of antioxidant principles in both fractions were responsible for hepatoprotective activities, however, the presence of catechol (7.23%) in the bark part imparted better activities in protecting liver than leaf of H. zeylanicum.

Mangiferin positively regulates osteoblast differentiation and suppresses osteoclast differentiation

Mangiferin is a polyphenolic compound present in Salacia reticulata. It has been reported to reduce bone destruction and inhibit osteoclastic differentiation. This study aimed to determine whether mangiferin directly affects osteoblast and osteoclast proliferation and differentiation, and gene expression in MC3T3‑E1 osteoblastic cells and osteoclast‑like cells derived from primary mouse bone marrow macrophage cells. Mangiferin induced significantly greater WST‑1 activity, indicating increased cell proliferation. Mangiferin induced significantly increased alkaline phosphatase staining, indicating greater cell differentiation. Reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction (RT‑PCR) demonstrated that mangiferin significantly increased the mRNA level of runt‑related transcription factor 2 (RunX2), but did not affect RunX1 mRNA expression. Mangiferin significantly reduced the formation of tartrate‑resistant acid phosphatase‑positive multinuclear cells. RT‑PCR demonstrated that mangiferin significantly increased the mRNA level of estrogen receptor β (ERβ), but did not affect the expression of other osteoclast‑associated genes. Mangiferin may inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption by suppressing differentiation of osteoclasts and promoting expression of ERβ mRNA in mouse bone marrow macrophage cells. It also has potential to promote osteoblastic bone formation by promoting cell proliferation and inducing cell differentiation in preosteoblast MC3T3‑E1 cells via RunX2. Mangiferin may therefore be useful in improving bone disease outcomes.

The potential role of mangiferin in cancer treatment through its immunomodulatory, anti-angiogenic, apoptopic, and gene regulatory effects

Mangiferin (1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone-C2-β-D-glucoside) is a natural bioactive xanthonoid that can be found in many plant species, among which the mango tree (Mangifera indica L), a plant widely used in the traditional medicinal, is one of its primary sources. The use of mangiferin for cancer treatment has attracted the attention of research groups around the World. Single administration of mangiferin or in combination with known anticancer chemicals has shown the potential benefits of this molecule in lung, brain, breast, cervix, and prostate cancers, and leukemia. Mangiferin mechanisms of action against cancer cells through in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo models are discussed besides its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Nevertheless, pharmaceutical development and, therefore, clinical trials on cancer targets are still lacking. © 2016 BioFactors, 42(5):475-491, 2016.

Polyphenols from Erythrina crista-galli: Structures, Molecular Docking and Phytoestrogenic Activity

OBJECTIVES

The current study aimed at exploring the secondary metabolites content of Erythrina crista-galli aqueous methanol extract and assessing its phytoestrogenic and cytoprotective activities.

METHODS

Isolation of the compounds was carried out using conventional chromatographic techniques. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on the UV, NMR spectral data along with their mass-spectrometric analyses. The phytoestrogenic activity was evaluated in-silico and in vitro using the Arabidopsis thaliana pER8: GUS reporter assay and the proliferation-enhancing activity of MCF-7 cells.

KEY FINDINGS

Phytochemical investigation of E. crista-galli aqueous methanol extract resulted in the isolation and identification of five flavonoids. The plant extract and its fractions showed significant estrogenic activities compared to controls.

CONCLUSION

Five flavonoids were identified from E. crista-galli aqueous methanol extract. To the best of our knowledge, among these flavonoids, apigenin-7-O-rhamnosyl-6-C-glucoside was isolated for the first time from nature. Moreover, luteolin-6-C-glucoside was isolated for the first time from this plant. The plant revealed promising phytoestrogenic activities. This gives rationale to some of its pharmacological properties and suggests additional phytoestrogenic effects, which have not been reported yet.

Hepatoprotective Effects of Chinese Medicinal Herbs: A Focus on Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidative Activities

The liver is intimately connected to inflammation, which is the innate defense system of the body for removing harmful stimuli and participates in the hepatic wound-healing response. Sustained inflammation and the corresponding regenerative wound-healing response can induce the development of fibrosis, cirrhosis and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma. Oxidative stress is associated with the activation of inflammatory pathways, while chronic inflammation is found associated with some human cancers. Inflammation and cancer may be connected by the effect of the inflammation-fibrosis-cancer (IFC) axis. Chinese medicinal herbs display abilities in protecting the liver compared to conventional therapies, as many herbal medicines have been shown as effective anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative agents. We review the relationship between oxidative stress and inflammation, the development of hepatic diseases, and the hepatoprotective effects of Chinese medicinal herbs via anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative mechanisms. Moreover, several Chinese medicinal herbs and composite formulae, which have been commonly used for preventing and treating hepatic diseases, including Andrographis Herba, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Lycii Fructus, Coptidis Rhizoma, curcumin, xiao-cha-hu-tang and shi-quan-da-bu-tang, were selected for reviewing their hepatoprotective effects with focus on their anti-oxidative and ant-inflammatory activities. This review aims to provide new insight into how Chinese medicinal herbs work in therapeutic strategies for liver diseases.

Salaterpene E, a eudesmane-type sesquiterpene from Salacia longipes var. camerunensis

A mixture of two compounds with potent antiplasmodial activity in vitro against the W2 strain of Plasmodium falciparum (half maximal inhibitory concentration, 1.12 μg/mL) was obtained in a previous investigation of the CH2Cl2-MeOH extract of the seeds of Salacia longipes var. camerunensis. Separation by column chromatography led now to the isolation of salaterpene E (1) and (1R,2R,4S,5S,6R,7R,9S,10R)-2-acetoxy-1,6,9-tribenzoyloxy-4-hydroxy-dihydro-β-agarofuran (2). The structure of 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, and its absolute configuration was established unambiguously by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Also the absolute configurations of the recently described salaterpenes A (2a) and D (2b) were determined by this method using the anomalous scattering of the oxygen atoms only.

An Updated Review on the Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Clinical Trials of Salacia oblonga

Salacia oblonga (S. oblonga), a perennial herb, has been used for thousands of years in ayurvedic medicine and is closely associated with prevention, treatment, and cure of various human ailments such as obesity and diabetes. A vast and wide range of chemical compounds such as polyphenols, friedelane-type triterpenes, norfriedelane-type triterpenes, eudesmane-type sesquiterpenes including various glycosides had been isolated from this plant. This review is aimed to survey the literature covering the phytochemistry and pharmacology of S. oblonga and to review the scientific data including active components and their multi-targeted mechanisms of action against various metabolic syndromes. We also included clinical trials related to this plant in this review. The overview would assist researchers to gather scientific information related to S. oblonga in future.

Dietary (-)-epicatechin mitigates oxidative stress, NO metabolism alterations, and inflammation in renal cortex from fructose-fed rats

High fructose consumption has been associated to deleterious metabolic conditions. In the kidney, high fructose causes renal alterations that contribute to the development of chronic kidney disease. Evidence suggests that dietary flavonoids have the ability to prevent/attenuate risk factors of chronic diseases. This work investigated the capacity of (-)-epicatechin to prevent the renal damage induced by high fructose consumption in rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats received 10% (w/v) fructose in the drinking water for 8 weeks, with or without supplementation with (-)-epicatechin (20mg/kg body weight/d) in the rat chow diet. Results showed that, in the presence of mild proteinuria, the renal cortex from fructose-fed rats exhibited fibrosis and decreases in nephrin, synaptopodin, and WT1, all indicators of podocyte function in association with: (i) increased markers of oxidative stress; (ii) modifications in the determinants of NO bioavailability, i.e., NO synthase (NOS) activity and expression; and (iii) development of a pro-inflammatory condition, manifested as NF-κB activation, and associated with high expression of TNFα, iNOS, and IL-6. Dietary supplementation with (-)-epicatechin prevented or ameliorated the adverse effects of high fructose consumption. These results suggest that (-)-epicatechin ingestion would benefit when renal alterations occur associated with inflammation or metabolic diseases.

[Antioxidant Activity of Salacia Plant (Salacia reticulata)]

Antioxidant activities of aqueous extracts prepared from powdered leaves and stems of Salacia reticulata, a Salacia plant that grows in Sri Lanka, were investigated. Lipid peroxide levels and some hepatic injury markers in plasma, liver and/or kidney of mice treated with ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) were increased as compared to those of control mice. Oral preadministration of extracts of Salacia leaves and stems at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight prevented the elevations of lipid peroxides and injury markers in a dose-dependent manner. Decrease of antioxidant activity in plasma of mice treated with Fe-NTA was also prevented by administration of these extracts. In in vitro study, well-known polyphenol components exhibited antioxidant activities, but other effective components were also present in these extracts. The results of this investigation indicate that the extracts of leaves and stems of S. reticulata could be beneficial as health foods for the prevention of oxidative stress-related disorders.

A subchronic oral toxicity study of Salacia reticulata extract powder in rats

The safety of Salacia plant (Salacia reticulata) extract powder, which is used in Ayurvedic medical practices, was studied in a dose range-finding subchronic toxicity study in Crl:CD Sprague-Dawley rats. Male and female rats were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups and were treated by oral gavage with 0, 10, 65, and 400 mg/kg body weight/day of the powder for 91 days. Body weight, food consumption, and clinical signs were assessed during the treatment period. Urinalysis, hematology, blood chemistry, and organ weights were determined one day after the final treatment. The animals were euthanized at the end of the treatment and were examined for necropsy and histopathological purposes. No adverse toxicity was observed in the Salacia powder-treated groups with a No Observed Adverse Effect Level of ≧400 mg/kg body weight/day in both male and female SD rats.

Anti-diabetic and Anti-hyperlipidemic Effects and Safety of Salacia reticulata and Related Species

Extracts of Salacia reticulata Wight (Hypocrataceae) roots, stems, and leaves have been used in Asia for hundreds of years for the folkloric treatment of diabetes and other health problems. Constituents that have been identified as exhibiting anti-diabetic effects include salacinol, kotalanol, ponkorinol, salaprinol, and their corresponding de-0-sulfonated compounds. Mangiferin, kotalagenin 16-acetate and various proanthocyanidin oligomers have also been isolated. Studies indicate that Salacia extracts modulate multiple targets that influence carbohydrate and lipid metabolism including α-glucosidase, aldose reductase, pancreatic lipase, peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-α, glucose transporter-4 mediated glucose uptake, and angiotensin II type 1 receptor. Furthermore, Salacia extracts exhibit free radical scavenging, antioxidant and hepatoprotectant activities. In human studies, Salacia extracts have been shown to decrease plasma glucose and insulin levels, decrease HbA1c, and modulate serum lipid levels with no adverse effects being reported. Similar results have been demonstrated in rat and mouse models as well as in vitro systems. Safety of S. reticulata and other Salacia species as S. oblonga and S. chinensis in rats and mice indicate that extracts are exceedingly safe. No clinical studies have examined the effects of Salacia extracts on human weight loss, although weight loss and decreases in weight gain have been demonstrated in animal models. Because of the large number of pharmacologically active compounds, it is difficult to establish standards for extracts.

Soya phospholipid complex of mangiferin enhances its hepatoprotectivity by improving its bioavailability and pharmacokinetics

BACKGROUND

Mangiferin is a xanthonoid present in Mangifera indica. It has been reported for a variety of pharmacological activities, including hepatoprotection. However, the major disadvantage of mangiferin is its reduced biological activity due to poor absorption, low bioavailability and rapid elimination from the body after administration. The aim of this study was to prepare a phospholipid complex of mangiferin to overcome these limitations and to investigate the impact of the complex on hepatoprotective activity and bioavailability.

RESULTS

The results showed that the complex has an enhanced hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant activity as compared to pure mangiferin at the same dose level (30 and 60 mg kg⁻¹). The complex restored the levels of serum hepatic marker enzymes and liver antioxidant enzymes with respect to carbon tetrachloride-treated animals. The complex also increased the bioavailability of mangiferin in rat serum by 9.75-fold compared to pure mangiferin at the same dose level and enhanced the elimination half-life (t(1/2 el)) from 1.71 ± 0.12 h⁻¹ to 3.52 ± 0.27 h⁻¹.

CONCLUSION

The results suggested that the complexation of mangiferin with soya phospholipid enhanced the hepatoprotection and in vivo antioxidant activity, which may be due to the improved bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of mangiferin in rat serum.

Antioxidant status of serum, muscle, intestine and hepatopancreas for fish fed graded levels of biotin

Lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and antioxidant activities of muscle, intestine, hepatopancreas and serum in juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian) were investigated after feeding graded levels of biotin (0.010, 0.028, 0.054, 0.151, 0.330, 1.540 and 2.680 mg kg(-1) diet) for 63 days. Both malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl content in all studied tissues and serum were the lowest in fish fed diets containing 0.151-0.330 mg biotin kg(-1) diet and then increased in fish fed the diet with 2.680 mg biotin kg(-1) diet (P < 0.05). Similarly, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase activities in serum significantly decreased with biotin levels up to 0.151 mg kg(-1) diet (P < 0.05). Conversely, capacities of anti-hydroxyl radical (AHR) and anti-superoxide anion (ASA) in the detected tissues and serum significantly improved with biotin levels up to 0.054-1.540 mg kg(-1) diet and then decreased in 2.680 mg biotin kg(-1) diet group for muscle and intestinal AHR as well as hepatopancreas ASA (P < 0.05). Activities of superoxide dismutase in all studied tissues and serum significantly elevated with biotin levels up to 0.330 mg kg(-1) diet and then decreased when fish fed the diet with 2.680 mg biotin kg(-1) diet, except intestine (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione reductase and total thiol content in all studied tissues and serum showed the upward trend with biotin supplementations (P < 0.05). These results indicated that biotin improved antioxidant status and depressed lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in all studied tissues and serum.

Pharmacological evaluation of mangiferin herbosomes for antioxidant and hepatoprotection potential against ethanol induced hepatic damage

CONTEXT

Fatty liver is the first stage of alcoholic damage which is reversible with abstinence from alcohol. Mangiferin (MF) showed potent scavenging activity on diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals which stimulate liver regeneration in various liver injuries.

OBJECTIVE

Although, MF shows hepatoprotection against various liver disorders but due to rapid clearance and limited solubility in lipoid environment, there is problem of its poor absorption from intestine hence poor bioavailability. Owing to which there is a need to develop MF herbosomes to resolve the problem of poor bioavailability to enhance the therapeutic potential.

METHODS

Successfully prepared MF herbosomes through complexation with phospholipids were characterized by physicochemical, chromatography, spectroscopy (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared (IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)), ex vivo absorption using everted small intestine sac technique and in vivo studies using ethanol inducing hepatotoxicity in albino rats and comparing the results against plain MF.

RESULTS

Ex vivo study showed significant increased absorption of MF from prepared MF herbosomes as compared to plain MF. The hepatoprotective potential of MF herbosomes evaluated by in vivo study revealed significantly decreased levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transminase (SGPT), total bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in MF herbosomes as compared to plain MF. MF herbosomes also showed significantly decreased level of malonyl dehydrogenase along with increased levels of reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase as compared to plain MF which was also comparable to the standard drug, silymarin (SL).

CONCLUSION

The above mentioned results showed that hepatoprotective and antioxidant potency of MF enhanced due to the preparation of its herbosomes.

Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities of Ethanolic Extracts of Leaves of Premna esculenta Roxb. against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Damage in Rats

Premna esculenta Roxb. (family Verbenaceae) is a shrub used by the ethnic people of Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh for the treatment of hepatocellular jaundice. The present study was done to evaluate the hepatoprotective and the in vivo antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts of leaves of the plant in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats. Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats by i.p. injection of CCl4 diluted with olive oil (1:1 v/v; 1 mL/kg body weight) on alternate days for 7 days. After 7 days of pretreatment of test extracts, the biochemical markers such as Serum Glutamate Oxaloacetate Transaminase (SGOT), Serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), total protein, and albumin were estimated followed by the measurement of liver cytosolic antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase. The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett's t-test. The extract both at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o. significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the elevated levels of SGPT, SGOT, ALP and increased the reduced levels of total protein and albumin compared to the CCl4-treated animals. The extracts also showed a significant (P < 0.001) increase in the reduced levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and peroxidase. The effects of the extracts on these parameters were comparable with those of the standard, silymarin. The findings of the study indicate that the leaf extract of P. esculenta showed a potential hepatoprotective activity and the protective action might have manifested by restoring the hepatic SOD, catalase, and peroxidase levels. The results justify the traditional use of this plant in liver disorders.

Reducing effect of mangiferin on serum uric acid levels in mice

CONTEXT

Mangiferin, a natural bioactive xanthone C-glycoside, is widely present in medicinal plants like the leaf of Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae). It has been reported that mangiferin possesses a variety of biological activities, including antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic.

OBJECTIVE

The hypouricemic effect and xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) inhibitory activity of mangiferin were investigated here for the first time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The hypouricemic effect of mangiferin was investigated in normal and hyperuricemic mice induced by potassium oxonate. Mangiferin at a dose of 0.75-100.0 mg/kg was given intragastrically to mice. The serum urate levels were determined using the phosphotungstic acid method. The hepatic activities of xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) and xanthine oxidase (XOD) in hyperuricemic mice were assayed using commercially available kits.

RESULTS

The results showed that mangiferin at a dose of 1.5, 3.0, and 6.0 mg/kg significantly reduced the serum urate levels (148.7 ± 37.8, 142.2 ± 44.5, 121.7 ± 21.7 µmmol/L) in hyperuricemic mice, compared with untreated hyperuricemic mice (201.8 ± 71.2 µmmol/L). However, mangiferin did not decrease the serum urate levels in normal mice until mangiferin was up to 100 mg/kg. In addition, the hepatic activities of XDH in hyperuricemic mice were significantly decreased by mangiferin, while no changes of XOD were observed. Acute toxicity study in mice showed that mangiferin was very safe at a dose of up to 25 g/kg.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate that mangiferin has the potential to be developed as a new therapeutic agent for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout.

Potentiation of hypolipidemic and weight-reducing influence of dietary tender cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) when combined with capsaicin in high-fat-fed rats

Soluble fiber-rich tender cluster bean pod (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) (CB) and a combination of CB and capsaicin, a thermogenic spice compound, were evaluated for weight-reducing effect in high-fat-fed Wistar rats. Freeze-dried CB and capsaicin were included at 15 and 0.015%, respectively, in the high-fat (30%) diet for 8 weeks. Excretion of dietary fat, fat deposition in adipose, and activities of enzymes involved in lipolysis and lipogenesis were examined. CB and capsaicin additively decreased weight gain in high-fat-fed rats, without affecting feed intake. The antiobesity potential of CB was through impeding fat accumulation in adipose and enhancing fat excretion. Decrease in adipose triglyceride by the combination was higher than their individual effects and was accompanied by enhanced activity of hormone-sensitive lipase-facilitating mobilization of depot fat. Increased fecal excretion of triglycerides by the combination of CB and capsaicin was additive. Whereas the hypolipidemic effect of the combination was higher than their individual effects, the decrease in hepatic cholesterol and triglycerides produced by the combination was additve. Thus, dietary CB significantly checked weight gain and adverse changes in lipid profile in high-fat-fed condition amounting to a cardioprotective effect. These beneficial effects were potentiated by coadministration of capsaicin.

Antispasmodic effect of 4'-methylepigallocatechin on guinea pig ileum

The antispasmodic effect of 4'-methylepigallocatechin (MEC), which was isolated from Maytenus rigida Mart (Celestraceae), was investigated in vitro in guinea pig intestinal segments. In the isolated ileum, MEC (1 nM-100 μM) did not modify the ileal spontaneous tonus or the electrically elicited contractions. MEC (8 μM) significantly (p<0.01) reduced the submaximal contractions induced by histamine (2 μM), carbachol (100 μM) and BaCl₂ (0.03 M). An additive relaxing action (p<0.001) was observed by co-incubation of verapamil (10 nM) and MEC (8 μM). Although MEC (1 nM-100 μM) did not modify the contractions elicited by 60 mM KCl, it significantly reduced the CaCl₂ contractile response without changing the EC₅₀ (effective concentration of CaCl₂ causing 50% of maximum response). In brief, these results show that MEC has a potent ileal spasmolytic effect and blocks spasms induced by specific and nonspecific stimuli. Importantly, the spasmolytic effects were attained at low concentrations and might be related to the symptomatic relief of abdominal pain that is obtained from the use of the M. rigida stem bark.

Hepatoprotective activity of methanolic extract of Hiptage bengalensis leaves against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

The objective of the present study was to evaluate hepatoprotective activity of methanolic extract of Hiptage bengalensis (L.) kurz (MEHB) in rats. Hepatic damage was induced by administration of carbontetrachloride(1 ml/kg, b.w, p.o.) in combination with liquid paraffin (1:1) as a single dose on 7th day. The extent of liver damage was studied by estimating biochemical parameters. Administration of MEHB (200 mg & 400 mg/kg) for 6 days before carbontetrachloride administration showed a significant reduction (p < 0.01) of serum liver damage enzymes markers-aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Histopathological changes of hepatic tissue were also evaluated in control and MEHB treated groups. Results also indicated that MEHB possessed potential antioxidant effect by increasing the levels of glutathione and also possessed free radical scavenging activities. The hepatoprotective effect of Hiptage bengalensis (L.) kurz was comparable to standard drug silymarin (50 mg/kg).

Snailase preparation of ginsenoside M1 from protopanaxadiol-type ginsenoside and their protective effects against CCl4-induced chronic hepatotoxicity in mice

To investigate the protective effects of protopanaxadiol-type ginsenoside (PDG) and its metabolite ginsenoside M1 (G-M1) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced chronic liver injury in ICR mice, we carried out conversion of protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides to ginsenoside M1 using snailase. The optimum time for the conversion was 24 h at a constant pH of 4.5 and an optimum temperature of 50 °C. The transformation products were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ion-mass spectrometry. Subsequently, most of PDG was decomposed and converted into G-M1 by 24 h post-reaction. During the study on hepatoprotective in a mice model of chronic liver injury, PDG or G-M1 supplement significantly ameliorated the CCl₄-induced liver lesions, lowered the serum levels of select hepatic enzyme markers (alanine aminotransferase, ALT, and aspartate aminotransferase, AST) and malondialdehyde and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase in liver. Histopathology of the liver tissues showed that PDG and G-M1 attenuated the hepatocellular necrosis and led to reduction of inflammatory cell infiltration. Therefore, the results of this study show that PDG and G-M1 can be proposed to protect the liver against CCl₄-induced oxidative injury in mice, and the hepatoprotective effect might be attributed to amelioration of oxidative stress.

Pharmacokinetic study of mangiferin in human plasma after oral administration

Mangiferin, an active component of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, although it is reported to have various pharmacological effects, the limited number of pharmacokinetic studies limit its wide application. To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of mangiferin in human, a sensitive high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) method for the determination of mangiferin in human plasma was developed. The proposed HPLC-MS method is selective, precise and accurate enough and enables the identification and quantification of mangiferin for the use in clinical studies. After single oral administration of 0.1, 0.3 and 0.9g mangiferin, respectively, the method was successfully applied for the pharmacokinetics of mangiferin in 21 healthy male Chinese volunteers. The pharmacokinetic of mangiferin was fit to the non-compartmental model. The pharmacokinetics parameters were calculated. Mangiferin concentration in plasma reached 38.64±6.75ng/mL about 1h after oral administration of 0.9g mangiferin and the the apparent elimination half-life (t1/2) was 7.85±1.72h. The absorption of mangiferin was increased with the administration of a large dose and it was concluded that the pharmacokinetics of mangiferin in human was nonlinear.

Salacia reticulata inhibits differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes

ETHOPARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Salacia reticulata, a herbal medicine which has been used for the treatment of early diabetes in Ayurvedic medicine, is reported to have an anti-obesity effect and to be useful in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance and other metabolic diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study was performed to elucidate the mechanism of action of Salacia reticulata with special attention to the adipocytes as the tissue primarily involved in the pathology of metabolic diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mouse-derived adipocyte precursor 3T3-L1 cells were treated with differentiation inducers in the presence or absence of Salacia reticulata (SRCD). We determined triacylglycerol accumulations, differentiation makers, released glycerol and adiponectin. Mangiferin, the primary component of SRCD, was also treated to 3T3-L1 cells.

RESULT

Concurrent administration of the extract of SRCD and differentiation inducers resulted in a significant inhibition of differentiation into mature adipocytes. SRCD also exhibited significant inhibitory action on the expression of genes and proteins of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ and CCAAT-enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)α, as well as on the activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), a differentiation marker, and caused a reduction in the concentration of released adiponectin. However, SRCD had no influence on lipolysis as indicated by the release of glycerol into the culture medium. The primary component of SRCD, mangiferin, was investigated for its effect on adipocytes; mangiferin caused no suppression of fat accumulation, suggesting that a component of SRCD other than mangiferin may be involved in the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation.

CONCLUSIONS

The above results suggest that the inhibitory action of SRCD on adipocyte differentiation, and not the promotion of lipolysis, is involved in the suppression of fat accumulation.

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Murdannia bracteata methanol extract

Murdannia bracteata (C. B. Clarke) is a local plant that is widely used in Malaysia as a traditional remedy for various diseases of the kidney and liver, including inflammation and cancer. In the present study, we investigated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of M. bracteata methanol extract (MB). 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, lipid peroxidation inhibition and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity of MB were determined. The hepatoprotective activity of MB was studied using a CCl(4)-induced liver toxicity model in rats. The hepatoprotective effect was assessed by monitoring the plasma malondialdehyde level and serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities. Histopathological changes of hepatic tissue were also investigated. The results indicated that MB possessed potential antioxidant, lipid peroxidation inhibition and free radical scavenging activities. Pretreatment of rats with MB (500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg per os) before induction of CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity showed a dose-dependent reduction in the necrotic changes in hepatic tissue. The increases in plasma malondialdehyde level, serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities were also significantly inhibited by MB. The total phenolic content of MB determined using Folin-Ciocalteu assay was found to be 10%. The results of the present study indicated that the hepatoprotective effect of MB is most likely due to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties.

Spectroscopic investigation of interaction between mangiferin and bovine serum albumin

The mechanism of interaction between mangiferin (MA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in aqueous solution was investigated by fluorescence spectra, synchronous fluorescence spectra, absorbance spectra and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The binding constants and binding sites of MA to BSA at different reaction times were calculated. And the distance between MA and BSA was estimated to be 5.20 nm based on Föster's theory. In addition, synchronous fluorescence and FT-IR measurements revealed that the secondary structures of the protein changed after the interaction of MA with BSA. As a conclusion, the interaction between the anti-diabetes Chinese medicine MA and BSA may provide some significant information for the mechanism of the traditional chinese medicine MA on the protein level to cure diabetes or other diseases.

Hepatoprotective amide constituents from the fruit of Piper chaba: Structural requirements, mode of action, and new amides

The 80% aqueous acetone extract from the fruit of Piper chaba (Piperaceae) was found to have hepatoprotective effects on D-galactosamine (D-GalN)/lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury in mice. From the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction, three new amides, piperchabamides E, G, and H, 33 amides, and four aromatic constituents were isolated. Among the isolates, several amide constituents inhibited D-GalN/tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced death of hepatocytes, and the following structural requirements were suggested: (i) the amide moiety is essential for potent activity; and (ii) the 1,9-decadiene structure between the benzene ring and the amide moiety tended to enhance the activity. Moreover, a principal constituent, piperine, exhibited strong in vivo hepatoprotective effects at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, po and its mode of action was suggested to depend on the reduced sensitivity of hepatocytes to TNF-alpha.

Mangiferin and hesperidin metabolites are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract of pigs after oral ingestion of a Cyclopia genistoides (honeybush tea) extract

Health-promoting properties such as antioxidative, anticarcinogenic, and cholesterol-lowering effects are described for mangiferin and hesperidin, the major phenolic compounds present in Cyclopia genistoides (honeybush). However, knowledge of their metabolic fate and their absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is very limited. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of mangiferin, hesperidin, and their metabolites in plasma, urine, and feces samples from pigs consuming an extract of Cyclopia genistoides. Pigs were administered up to 74 mg mangiferin per kilogram of body weight and 1 mg hesperidin per kilogram of body weight per day for 11 days. Plasma samples were collected at various time points on days 9 and 11 of the study and days 1 and 2 after termination of extract administration. Urine and feces were collected in fractions for 24 hours. In the plasma samples, the aglycone of mangiferin (norathyriol) was detected. Mean plasma concentrations ranged from 7.8 to 11.8 mumol/L. Six metabolites of mangiferin and hesperidin were detected in the urine, including methyl mangiferin, norathyriol, its monoglucuronide, hesperetin, hesperetin monoglucuronide, and eriodictyol monoglucuronide. Between 26.0% and 30.8% of the administered dose of hesperidin and only between 1.4% and 1.6% of mangiferin could be detected in the urine on days 9 and 11 of the study. Approximately 8.2% of the administered dose of mangiferin was determined in the feces. The main metabolite was norathyriol. Neither hesperidin nor metabolites ascribed to hesperidin intake were detected. The results suggest that formation of norathyriol from mangiferin occurs in vivo, and specific metabolites were identified in blood and excretion products in urine and feces. This study will aid in investigating the physiological functions of the parent compounds in vivo.

Effect of protamine in obesity induced by high-fat diets in rats

OBJECTIVE

Protamine has been shown to have an inhibitory effect on protein lipase in vitro; the objective of this study was to evaluate the antiobesity activity effect of protamine in obese induced rats, and to evaluate the effect of protamine on postprandial hypertriacylglyceridemia in rats by intragastric administration of a lipid emulsion containing corn oil.

DESIGN

Two experiments were carried out: (1) In a parallel study in rats, we administered a lipid emulsion containing corn oil plus 0, 200 or 500 mg kg(-1) of protamine intragastrically. (2) In a randomized parallel prospective rats experiment, rats were fed with a high-fat diet and 0, 200 or 500 mg of protamine per kg of animal weight during 5 weeks.

SUBJECTS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats.

MEASUREMENTS

In experiment 1, plasma triacylglycerol levels after oral administration of lipid emulsion were determined. In experiment 2, weight gain, concentrations of plasma triacylglycerol, plasma total cholesterol and albumin were determined, and the subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues were weighed.

RESULTS

Plasma triacylglycerol concentration in rats administered with 200 or 500 mg kg(-1) of protamine was significantly lower than that in rats in the control group (200 mg kg(-1) of protamine, P<0.05 at 1, 2, 3 and 4 h; 500 mg kg(-1) of protamine P<0.05 at 2, 3 and 4 h). In rats fed with a high-fat diet, and 200 and 500 mg kg(-1) of protamine, there was a decreased body weight gain by 52 and 66 g, respectively, reduced visceral fat by 5 and 8 g, respectively and subcutaneous tissue weights by 12 and 15 g, respectively. Plasma triacylglycerol was 17 and 45 mg per 100 ml lower in rats fed with high-fat diet plus 200 and 500 mg kg(-1) of protamine, respectively. And cholesterol concentrations were 18 and 22 mg per 100 ml lower in both protamine groups, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that protamine reduce weight gain and body fat accumulation through the inhibition of dietary fat absorption.

Mechanisms of blood glucose-lowering effect of aqueous extract from stems of Kothala himbutu (Salacia reticulata) in the mouse

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Kothala himbutu (Salacia reticulata) is a medicinal plant that has been used in Ayurvedic system of Indian and Sri Lankan traditional medicine to treat diabetes.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to clarify the mechanism(s) by which aqueous extracts of Kothala himbutu (KTE) stems decreases fasting blood glucose levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Gene expression profiles were assessed by DNA microarray and RT-PCR analyses of RNA from the liver of KK-Ay diabetic mice administered KTE or control distilled water for 4 weeks, and from cultured liver cells treated with freeze-dried KTE (KTED) or selected phenolic compounds.

RESULTS

DNA microarray and RT-PCR analyses revealed that gluconeogenic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP) was decreased compared with the control in KTE-treated KK-Ay mice. RT-PCR analysis using cultured liver cells treated with KTED and/or actinomycin D or cycloheximide, revealed that KTED directly decreased FBP mRNA levels via destabilization of the mRNA. One compound in KTE, mangiferin, was demonstrated to dose-dependently down-regulate FBP mRNA.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that the mangiferin in KTE acts directly on liver cells and down-regulates the gluconeogenic pathway through regulation of FBP expression, thereby decreasing fasting blood glucose levels in mice. Our results demonstrate that gluconeogenic gene regulation is one possible mechanism by which KT exerts its effects in traditional diabetic medicine.

Saengshik, a formulated health food, prevents liver damage in CCl4-induced mice and increases antioxidant activity in elderly women

Saengshik is a Korean noncooked food made with of more than 30 different whole gains, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, and seaweeds. All of these ingredients are frozen and dried to minimize the loss of nutrients. Saengshik has become popular among health-conscious people in the Republic of Korea. The study aims to investigate antioxidant effects of Saengshik by in vivo and human experiments. In in vivo tests, mice were fed Saengshik for 4 weeks, and oxidative damage was induced by CCl(4). Then the effects of Saengshik on oxidative damage were examined. It was found that plasma lipid hydroperoxide and protein oxidative damages were significantly suppressed and antioxidants, glutathione, and thiol groups were increased. The activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase was increased, and the level of glutamate pyruvate transaminase was decreased. In a human study, elderly people were given Saengshik for 24 weeks, and changes in antioxidant defense of the body were examined. Antioxidant activities in plasma were enhanced, although the difference was not significant. Therefore, it is expected that Saengshik is effective at removing oxidants from body tissues, preventing oxidative damage, and eventually boosting the antioxidant capacity of the body.