title: Anti-UV Activity of Alkaline Extract of the Leaves of Sasa senanensis Rehder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have previously reported several lignin-like activities of the alkaline extract of the leaves of Sasa senanensis Rehder (SE), such as anti-HIV and radical scavenging activity. As an extension, possible SE protection of cells from ultraviolet (UV)-induced injury (referred to "anti-UV activity") was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  HSC-2, human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells, were exposed to UV irradiation in phosphate-buffered saline containing SE or its fractions, and then incubated for 48 hours in fresh regular culture medium to determine the viable cell number by the MTT method. SE was separated by gel filtration chromatography into the following four fractions: polysaccharide, large and small lignin-carbohydrate complexes and lower molecular weight polyphenol fractions (Fr. I).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The anti-UV activity of SE was slightly less than that of sodium ascorbate, but higher than that of gallic acid, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, chlorophyll a and chlorophyllin. The combination of SE and sodium ascorbate gave synergistic anti-UV activity. On gel filtration fractionation, the majority of the anti-UV activity was recovered from Fr. I, which was eluted as a single peak on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anti-UV activity of SE further suggests its potential as an alternative medicine.
authors.affiliation: MPL, Meikai University School of Dentistry, Sakado, Saitama 350-0283, Japan. sasasenanensis79@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuta
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakagami
authors.forename: Madoka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitajima
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oizumi
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oizumi
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031787:Sasa / Q000737:chemistry*; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D001205:Ascorbic Acid