Du-zhong (Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.) cortex water extract alters heme biosynthesis and erythrocyte antioxidant defense system in lead-administered rats.
This study examined the ameliorative effect of a Du-zhong (Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.) cortex water extract (DzCw) on heme biosynthesis and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities in lead (Pb)-administered rats. Male rats were divided into three groups: normal control group, Pb control group (Pb), and DzCw-administered Pb group (Pb + DzCw). The Pb (25 mg/kg of body weight) was administered orally once a week for 4 weeks, while the DzCw was administered orally at a dosage of 0.139 g of DzCw/kg of body weight/day. DzCw administration significantly lowered plasma Pb concentration compared with the Pb group. Furthermore, the blood hematocrit and hemoglobin levels were significantly higher in the Pb + DzCw group than in the Pb group. Although the blood and hepatic delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activities were significantly lower in the Pb group compared with the normal control group, both ALAD activities was normalized with the administration of DzCw. The erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were significantly higher in the Pb group than in the normal control group, whereas the glutathione peroxidase activity and glutathione level were lowered by Pb administration compared with the normal group. However, the administration of DzCw was found to enhance the antioxidant defense system and significantly lower lipid peroxidation levels in erythrocytes compared with the Pb group. These results indicate that the DzCw administration alleviated the Pb-induced oxidative stress in the erythrocytes through elevating the blood and hepatic ALAD activity and enhancing the antioxidant enzyme activities.
Lee
Mi-Kyung
MK
Food and Bio-Industry Research Institute, South Korea.
Cho
Soo-Yeul
SY
Kim
Duk-Jin
DJ
Jang
Joo-Yeun
JY
Shin
Kyong Hee
KH
Park
Sun Ae
SA
Park
Eun-Mi
EM
Lee
Jeong-Sun
JS
Choi
Myung-Sook
MS
Lee
Jeong-Sook
JS
Kim
Myung-Joo
MJ
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D031283:Eucommiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006418:Heme / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007854:Lead / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007854:Lead; D006418:Heme; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase; D005978:Glutathione