title: The antioxidant effect of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. shoot in D-galactose induced mice aging model and in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An increasing number of plant components and their extracts have been shown to have beneficial health effects in humans. We aimed to explore the antioxidant effects of the aqueous extract of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. shoot in vivo and in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 80 Kun Ming mice were randomly divided into four groups (20/group). The mice in the control group received a daily subcutaneous injection of saline. A daily injection of D-galactose was administered to the aging model group, the vitamin C (Vc) group (positive control group), and the extract treatment group. Regular measurement of blood cells, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), catalase (CAT) activities, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, nitric oxide (NO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and the expressions of NOS, SOD, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in serum levels were obtained. Furthermore, the microstructure of mice viscera was observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The aqueous extract of A. cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. had similar 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) hydrazyl (DPPH·) [or 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS+)] and higher hydroxyl radicals (or superoxide anion; p < 0.05) radical scavenging capabilities to Vc. Moreover, compared with the aging model group, the aqueous extract of A. cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. shoot could obviously increase NOS, CAT, and SOD activities and the NO content, and reduce the MDA content (p < 0.05). Additionally, the microstructure of mice viscera was obviously improved and the expressions of NOS, SOD and GPX were also manifestly increased in the treatment group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The aqueous extract of A. cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. shoot had a strong radical scavenging capability in vivo and in vitro, and might be used to diminish radicals in the body and consequently prevent aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ornamental Horticulture, College of Horticulture and Landscape, Hunan Agriculture University, Hunan, China; Department of Life Sciences, Huaihua University, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Linghua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Vegetable Research Institute, Agricultural Sciences Academy of Hunan Provincial, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.affiliation: Department of Ornamental Horticulture, College of Horticulture and Landscape, Hunan Agriculture University, Hunan, China. Electronic address: 475705701@qq.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027761:Asparagus Plant; D005690:Galactose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005690:Galactose
keywords: Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr.; antioxidant; enzyme activity; gene expression; shoot