title: Antioxidant and DNA protecting properties of anti-fatigue herb Trichopus zeylanicus.
abstract: Chronic fatigue is considered a complex symptom for which currently there is no curative treatment available. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the etiology of fatigue and antioxidant treatment might be a valuable therapeutic approach. The Kani, a tribal high altitude living population in southern India, traditionally use the seeds of Trichopus zeylanicus to combat fatigue. In this study, the antioxidant properties of Trichopus zeylanicus were established on free radicals (DPPH and ABTS), its ability to reduce iron, lipoxygenase activity and hydrogen peroxide-induced lipid peroxidation. The effects of Trichopus zeylanicus on reactive oxygen species induced plasmid DNA (pBR322) cleavage were also investigated. Trichopus zeylanicus significantly scavenged free radicals, reduced lipid peroxidation and inhibited lipoxygenase activity. Trichopus zeylanicus also exhibited iron-chelating activity and inhibited reactive oxygen species induced DNA damage. Trichopus zeylanicus contains NADH, polyphenols and sulfhydryl compounds, which have the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species suggesting that the antioxidant activity may be an important mechanism of action of Trichopus zeylanicus to combat fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Scott & White Clinic and Memorial Hospital, Scott, Sherwood and Brindley Foundation, Temple, TX 76508, USA.
authors.forename: Binu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tharakan
authors.forename: Muralikrishnan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dhanasekaran
authors.forename: Bala V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Manyam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D027743:Dioscoreaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000737:chemistry; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008084:Lipoxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010851:Picrates; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006834:Hydrazines; D010851:Picrates; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; C002502:2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid; D004247:DNA; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D008084:Lipoxygenase