title: Potent antioxidant and genoprotective effects of boeravinone G, a rotenoid isolated from Boerhaavia diffusa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Free radicals are implicated in the aetiology of some gastrointestinal disorders such as gastric ulcer, colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. In the present study we investigated the antioxidant and genoprotective activity of some rotenoids (i.e. boeravinones) isolated from the roots of Boerhaavia diffusa, a plant used in the Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antioxidant activity has been evaluated using both chemical (Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy, ESR) and Caco-2 cells-based (TBARS and ROS) assays. DNA damage was evaluated by Comet assay, while pERK(1/2) and phospho-NF-kB p65 levels were estimated by western blot. Boeravinones G, D and H significantly reduced the signal intensity of ESR induced by hydroxyl radicals, suggesting a scavenging activity. Among rotenoids tested, boeravinone G exerted the most potent effect. Boeravinone G inhibited both TBARS and ROS formation induced by Fenton's reagent, increased SOD activity and reduced H(2)O(2)-induced DNA damage. Finally, boeravinone G reduced the levels of pERK(1) and phospho-NF-kB p65 (but not of pERK(2)) increased by Fenton's reagent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that boeravinone G exhibits an extraordinary potent antioxidant activity (significant effect in the nanomolar range). The MAP kinase and NF-kB pathways seem to be involved in the antioxidant effect of boeravinone G. Boeravinone G might be considered as lead compound for the development of drugs potentially useful against those pathologies whose aetiology is related to ROS-mediated injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aviello
authors.forename: Jasna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Canadanovic-Brunet
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milic
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fattorusso
authors.forename: Orazio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Taglialatela-Scafati
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fasolino
authors.forename: Angelo A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borrelli
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000187:drug effects*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D039281:Nyctaginaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D006878:Hydroxides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; C568129:boeravinone G; C031356:hydroxide ion