The polyphenolic profiles and antioxidant activities of the water extracts of Barringtonia racemosa shoots (leaves and stems) were explored. Two methods, freeze drying and air drying, for preparation of the shoots, were also compared. Freeze drying was better as air drying caused 5-41% reduction of polyphenols. Three phenolic acids and three flavonoids were identified, using UHPLC. The descending order of polyphenols in the leaves and stems was gallic acid>ellagic acid>quercetin>protocatechuic acid>rutin>kaempferol. In vitro antioxidant analyses were performed using biological samples. In the LDL oxidation assay, B. racemosa leaf extract (IC50=73.0μg/ml) was better than stem extract (IC50=226μg/ml) at inhibiting the formation of TBARS and lipid hydroperoxides. Similar trends were observed for serum and haemoglobin oxidation. B. racemosa leaf extract was better than its stem extract in delaying the time required to oxidise haemoglobin to methaemoglobin. The high polyphenolic content of B. racemosa shoots could have contributed towards their antioxidative effects.
Dietary polyphenolic compounds mediate polynomial actions in guarding against multiple diseases. Atherosclerosis is an oxidative stress driven pathophysiological complication where free radical induced oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) plays the ground breaking role. Mushrooms have been highly regarded for possessing an antioxidant arsenal. Polyphenolic compounds present in dietary mushrooms seem pertinent in withstanding LDL oxidation en route to controlling atherosclerosis. In this study, the antioxidative effect of five solvent fractions consisting of methanol : dichloromethane (M : DCM), hexane (HEX), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EA), and aqueous residue (AQ) of Flammulina velutipes was evaluated. M : DCM fraction showed the most potent 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging effect with IC50 of 0.86 mg/mL and total phenolic content of 56.36 gallic acid equivalent/g fraction. In LDL oxidation inhibitory tests, M : DCM fraction at 1 µg/mL concentration mostly lengthened the lag time (125 mins) of conjugated diene formation and inhibited the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (48.71%, at 1 mg/mL concentration). LC-MS/MS analyses of M : DCM fraction identified the presence of polyphenolic substances protocatechuic acid, p-coumaric, and ellagic acid. These chain-breaking polyphenolics might impart the antioxidative effects of F. velutipes. Thus, mushroom-based dietary polyphenolic compounds might be implicated in slowing down the progression of atherosclerosis.
Many Premna species have been used in traditional medicine to treat hypertension and cardiac insufficiency, and as a tonic for cardiac-related problems. Some have been reported to possess cardiovascular protective activity through several possible mechanisms, but not Premna foetida. In the present study, the methanol extract of P. foetida leaves (PFM) and its isolated compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit copper-mediated human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and arachidonic acid (AA)- and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation. Six flavonoids, three triterpenoids, vanillic acid and stigmasterol were successfully isolated from PFM. Of the isolated compounds, quercetin was the most active against LDL oxidation (IC50 4.25 µM). The flavonols were more active than the flavones against LDL oxidation, suggesting that hydroxyl group at C-3 and the catechol moiety at B-ring may play important roles in protecting LDL from oxidation. Most tested flavonoids showed stronger inhibition towards AA-induced than the ADP-induced platelet aggregation with apigenin exhibiting the strongest effect (IC50 52.3 and 127.4 µM, respectively) while quercetin and kaempferol showed moderate activity. The results suggested that flavonoids, especially quercetin, apigenin and kaempferol were among the major constituents of P. foetida responsible for anti-LDL oxidation and anti-platelet aggregation.
Twelve edible plant extracts rich in polyphenols were screened for their potential to inhibit oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in vitro and to modulate LDL receptor (LDLr) activity in cultured HepG2 cells. The antioxidant activity (inhibition of LDL oxidation) was determined by measuring the formation of conjugated dienes (lag time) and thiobarbituric acid reagent substances (TBARS). Betel leaf (94%), cashew shoot (63%), Japanese mint (52%), semambu leaf (50%), palm frond (41%), sweet potato shoot, chilli fruit, papaya shoot, roselle calyx, and maman showed significantly increased lag time (>55 min, P < 0.05) and inhibition of TBARS formation (P < 0.05) compared to control. LDLr was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05) by Japanese mint (67%), semambu (51%), cashew (50%), and noni (49%). Except for noni and betel leaf, most plant extracts studied demonstrated a positive association between antioxidant activity and the ability to up-regulate LDL receptor. Findings suggest that reported protective actions of plant polyphenols on lipoprotein metabolism might be exerted at different biochemical mechanisms.
The aim is to test the hypothesis whether the cholesterol loaded lysosomes are capable of mediating lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) during aging and to study the efficacy of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in preserving the lysosomal membrane stability. Aged rats were fed with high cholesterol diet (HCD) and treated with EGCG orally. Serum and tissue lipid status, cholesterol levels in lysosomal fraction, activities of lysosomal enzymes in lysosomal, and cytosolic fractions were measured. Transmission electron microscopic studies (TEM), oil red "O" (ORO) staining, and immunohistochemical analysis of oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL) were carried out. Significant increase in serum, tissue lipid profile, and lysosomal cholesterol levels were observed in aged HCD-fed rats with a concomitant decrease in high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. We also observed a significant increase in lipid accumulation in hepatocytes of aged HCD-fed rats by TEM, ORO, and immunohistochemical staining. Upon treatment with EGCG to aged HCD-fed animals, we found augmented levels of HDL with a concomitant decrease in lysosomal cholesterol levels and other lipoproteins. TEM studies and immunohistochemistry of OxLDL also showed a marked reduction in lipid deposition of hepatocytes. Thus, EGCG has preserved the lysosomal membrane stability in HCD stressed aged rats. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: The research article is focused mainly on the effect of EGCG and its capability on mitigating the release of lysosomal enzymes in aged animals fed with HCD. The study signifies the cellular function of the organelle lysosome following administration of aged rats with HCD, which would make the readers to understand the action of EGCG and the interrelationship of both cholesterol and activity of lysosomes when cholesterol is loaded.