An aqueous extract of Rubus chingii fruits protects primary rat hepatocytes against tert-butyl hydroperoxide induced oxidative stress.
Different in vitro free radical generating systems were used to assess the antioxidative activity of aqueous extracts of the five herbal components of Wu-zi-yan-zong-wan, a traditional Chinese medicinal formula with a long history of use for tonic effects. Fructus Rubi [Rubus chingii (Rosaceae) fruits] was found to be the most potent. It was further investigated using the primary rat hepatocyte system. tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) was used to induce oxidative stress. Being a short chain analog of lipid hydroperoxide, t-BHP is metabolized into free radical intermediates by the cytochrome P450 system in hepatocytes, which in turn, initiate lipid peroxidation, glutathione depletion and cell damage. Pre-treatment of hepatocytes with Fructus Rubi extract (50 microg/ml to 200 microg/ml) for 24 h significantly reversed t-BHP-induced cell viability loss, lactate dehydrogenase leakage and the associated glutathione depletion and lipid peroxidation. The amount of reactive oxygen species formed was also decreased as visualized by the fluorescence probe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. These results suggested that Fructus Rubi was useful in protecting against t-BHP-induced oxidative damage and may also be capable of attenuating cytotoxicity of other oxidants.
Yau
Ming-Hon
MH
Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, China.
Che
Chun-Tao
CT
Liang
Song-Ming
SM
Kong
Yun-Cheung
YC
Fong
Wing-Ping
WP
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D027824:Rosaceae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry*; D020122:tert-Butylhydroperoxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D020122:tert-Butylhydroperoxide; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005978:Glutathione