In vitro antioxidant, antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory activity of Carpobrotus rossii (pigface) extract.
BACKGROUND
Carpobrotus rossii (CR) has a history of use as a food and therapeutic agent by Australian indigenous peoples and early European settlers and is believed to contain a number of pharmacologically active polyphenolic compounds.


OBJECTIVE
Oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL), platelet aggregation, and inflammation contribute to the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant, antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory activity of CR extract using human blood components.


METHODS
An assay employing in vitro copper-induced oxidation of serum lipids was used to assess antioxidant activity of CR extract (and tannin, flavonoid and pre- and post-flavonoid fractions). The effects of CR extract on ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation, and on basal (unstimulated) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and phytohaemagglutinin A (PHA)-stimulated cytokine release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were also investigated.


RESULTS
CR extract increased the lag time of serum oxidation (maximum of ∼4-fold at 20μg/ml) in a concentration-dependent manner. The antioxidant activity resided only in the tannin and post-flavonoid fractions. CR had no effect on ADP-induced platelet aggregation, but significantly decreased collagen-induced platelet aggregation. LPS, but not PHA, significantly increased the release of IL-1β and TNF-α from PBMC. CR extract alone inhibited monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 release and in the presence of LPS, inhibited IL-10, TNF-α and MCP-1 release compared to LPS alone.


CONCLUSIONS
CR has significant in vitro antioxidant, antiplatelet and, potentially, anti-inflammatory activity.
School of Human Life Sciences, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1320, Launceston, Tasmania 7250, Australia. D.Geraghty@utas.edu.au
Dominic P
DP
Geraghty
Kiran D K
KD
Ahuja
Jane
J
Pittaway
Cecilia
C
Shing
Glenn A
GA
Jacobson
Nynke
N
Jager
Saša
S
Jurković
Christian
C
Narkowicz
Cassandra I
CI
Saunders
Madeleine
M
Ball
Alex
A
Pinkard
Raghu R
RR
Vennavaram
Murray J
MJ
Adams
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors