title: Evidence-based antioxidant activity of the essential oil from Fructus A. zerumbet on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells' injury induced by ox-LDL.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The essential oil from Fructus Alpiniae zerumbet (FAZ) is its principal bioactive ingredient, and is widely used in Miao folk herbs in Guizhou province for the treatment of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases. Several studies have confirmed that FAZ ameliorates hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. Because endothelial dysfunction often accompanies cardiovascular diseases, especially hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis, the present study concentrated on evaluating the endothelial protective effects of the essential oil from FAZ (EOFAZ) on oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced injury of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and on the regulation of oxidative stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell viability was analyzed with the MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion staining (TBES). Cell injury was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Biochemical enzymatic methods were used to evaluate the oxidative stress, including the lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The redox status of HUVECs was significantly exacerbated after exposure to ox-LDL. EOFAZ protected HUVECs against ox-LDL injury as assessed by the MTT assay, TBES and LDH release. Furthermore, EOFAZ ameliorated the oxidative stress by elevating the activities of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px, and increasing the GSH levels, in addition to attenuating the MDA contents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data provide the first experimental evidence that EOFAZ protects endothelial cells against ox-LDL-induced injury, and indicate that this protection involves ameliorating the redox status.
authors.affiliation: Research Division of Pharmacology, Guiyang Medical University, Guiyang, People's Republic of China. shenxiangchun@126.com
authors.forename: Xiang-Chun
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Wan-Kui
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Yu-Yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D032429:Alpinia; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D009822:Oils, Volatile; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D008315:Malondialdehyde