Glycolipoprotein extract (G-90) from earthworm Eisenia foetida exerts some antioxidative activity.
Antioxidants protect DNA, proteins and lipids in the body from damage. These types of damages are a major contributor to aging and to degenerative diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune-system decline, brain dysfunction and cataracts. The effect of glycolipoprotein extract of Eisenia foetida (G-90) as an antioxidant was investigated in cultured human fibroblasts and epithelial cells. After treatment of the cells with H2O2 for 4 h, G-90 completely allows the cells to recover and stimulated their growth. When the cells were incubated with G-90 48 h before the treatment with H2O2, the oxidative damage of the cells did not occur. Thus, G-90 had an apparent protective effect against the toxicity of H2O2 and stimulated the growth of the cells. Ascorbic acid, a known antioxidant, did not allow the growth of the cells to recover after damage nor did it protect them, unless it was added simultaneously with H2O2. The antioxidative activity of G-90, together with its antibacterial and mitogen activities, could be useful in the study of G-90 as a wound-healing agent.
Grdisa
M
M
Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka 54, 10-000, Zagreb, Croatia. grdisa@rudjer.irb.hr
Popovic
M
M
Hrzenjak
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002457:Cell Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000737:chemistry*; D018384:Oxidative Stress
D000975:Antioxidants; D002457:Cell Extracts; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008074:Lipoproteins; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide