title: Antioxidant properties of Berberis aetnensis C. Presl (Berberidaceae) roots extract and protective effects on astroglial cell cultures.
abstract: Berberis aetnensis C. Presl (Berberidaceae) is a bushy-spiny shrub common on Mount Etna (Sicily). We demonstrated that the alkaloid extract of roots of B. aetnensis C. Presl contains prevalently berberine and berbamine, possesses antimicrobial properties, and was able to counteract the upregulation evoked by glutamate of tissue transglutaminase in primary rat astroglial cell cultures. Until now, there are no reports regarding antioxidant properties of B. aetnensis C. Presl collected in Sicily. Air-dried, powdered roots of B. aetnensis C. Presl were extracted, identified, and quantified by HPLC. We assessed in cellular free system its effect on superoxide anion, radicals scavenging activity of antioxidants against free radicals like the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, and the inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity. In primary rat astroglial cell cultures, exposed to glutamate, we evaluated the effect of the extract on glutathione levels and on intracellular production of reactive oxygen species generated by glutamate. The alkaloid extract of B. aetnensis C. Presl inhibited superoxide anion, restored to control values, the decrease of GSH levels, and the production of reactive oxygen species. Potent antioxidant activities of the alkaloid extract of roots of B. aetnensis C. Presl may be one of the mechanisms by which the extract is effective against health disorders associated to oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Science, Biochemistry Section, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Science, Biochemistry Section, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3139-1177
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Acquaviva
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Science, Biochemistry Section, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bonfanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Science, Biochemistry Section, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raciti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology Section, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amodeo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology Section, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mastrojeni
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ragusa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology Section, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iauk
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D028142:Berberis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D011503:Transglutaminases; D005978:Glutathione