Antioxidant activities of buckwheat hull extract toward various oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo. (25/612)

We have undertaken four basic in vitro studies and an animal experiment to obtain information about the antioxidant activities of buckwheat hull extract (BWHE). In the in vitro studies, BWHE scavenged super oxide anion produced in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system (IC50=11.4 microg phenolic compound/ml), and strongly inhibited autoxidation of linoleic acid (IC50=6.2 microg phenolic compound/ml). Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation induced by Cu2+ ion was also protected by BWHE. In the animal experiment, ddY mice were fed a standard diet supplemented with 0.75% BWHE for 14 d. In blood, liver and brain of the mice TBARS and fluorescent substance concentration were significantly decreased compared with those of non-treated mice. SOD like activity in serum also significantly rose by BWHE treatment. BWHE was shown to be effective for protecting biological systems against various oxidative stresses in vitro, and to have antioxidant activity in vivo.  (+info)

A novel series of thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitors with free radical scavenging and anti-peroxidative activities. (26/612)

A novel series of indoline derivatives with imidazole and carboxyl moieties were synthesized and evaluated for their thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthetase inhibiting, radical scavenging and anti-peroxidative activities. Among the compounds synthesized, 3-[5-substituted-3-[2-(imidazol-1-yl)ethyl]indolin-1-yl]propionic acids showed free radical scavenging activity and inhibitory effects on lipid-peroxidation of rat brain homogenate and on arachidonate-induced TXA2-dependent aggregation of rabbit platelets. The anti-platelet and anti-peroxidative activities were related to the lipophilicity of the 5-substituent. The 5-hexyloxy derivative (13) showed about 35-fold higher inhibitory activity on TXA2 synthesis than that of ozagrel and about 100-fold higher activity on lipid peroxidation than that of alpha-tocopherol. Compound 13 showed in vivo anti-thrombotic effect in mice and ex vivo anti-peroxidative activity in rats.  (+info)

Radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl of ascorbic acid 2-glucoside (AA-2G) and 6-acyl-AA-2G. (27/612)

The radical scavenging activity of the stable derivatives, which are O-substituted at the C-2 position of ascorbic acid (AA), against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was evaluated in buffer under different pH conditions, and compared with those of AA and alpha-tocopherol. AA was shown to have 50% radical scavenging ability (EC50) at a concentration of 2.2 x 10(-5) M against 0.1 mM DPPH in 60% ethanol. Ascorbyl 6-palmitate, a lipophilic AA derivative which has a free endiol group and is therefore unstable, also showed potent radical scavenging activity with EC50 of 2.9 x 10(-5) M. A typical lipophilic antioxidant, alpha-tocopherol gave a similar EC50 value as that of AA. In contrast, ascorbyl 2,6-dipalmitate, AA 2-phosphate and AA 2-sulfate exhibited negligible scavenging activity. On the other hand, 2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2G) and a series of 6-O-acyl-2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acids (6-Acyl-AA-2G) themselves exhibited the radical scavenging activity of EC50: 6.1 x 10(-5) M and 4.4 x 10(-5)-5.9 x 10(-5) M, respectively, although their activities were lower than that of AA. Among 6-Acyl-AA-2G derivatives, the EC50 values tended to decrease with increasing length of their acyl carbon group. Increasing pH of the buffer resulted in decrease in the scavenging activity of all compounds tested as expected. We speculate that the difference in the radical scavenging activity of derivatives O-substituted at the C-2 position of AA may be ascribed to the linkage type of the substituent group to the endiol-lactone resonance system and the degree of dissociation of the C-3 proton.  (+info)

2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate, a stable free radical, is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor. (28/612)

Glycosidases play a pivotal role in processing of various glycoproteins and glycolipids. It is well known that glycosidases are also involved in a variety of degenerative metabolic disorders such as cancer and AIDS. In order to develop potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, we first screened 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate as a candidate. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate was found to inhibit alpha- and beta-glucosidases as well as alpha- and beta-mannosidases. It was also shown to be a non-competitive inhibitor of yeast alpha-glucosidase with a Ki value of 1.1 x 10(-6) M. Taken together, we anticipate that 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate may be a potent inhibitor for some incurable metabolic disorders including AIDS.  (+info)

Isolation and antioxidant activity of galloyl flavonol glycosides from the seashore plant, Pemphis acidula. (29/612)

Four kinds of galloyl flavonol glycosides were found in the leaf extract of Pemphis acidula, a plant growing on the subtropical seashore. Their chemical structures were elucidated to be quercetin or kaempferol 6"-O-galloyl-beta-D-glycosides by using spectroscopic and chemical analyses. One of the flavonols, kaempferol-3-O-(6-O-galloyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside), was newly isolated from natural sources and its structure was completely determined in this investigation. The antioxidant-related activities of the galloyl flavonoids were examined by the DPPH antiradical activity, inhibition of methyl linoleate oxidation, and inhibition of oxidative cell death. These results were compared with those of the corresponding non-galloylated flavonol glycosides and their aglycones. The galloyl flavonoids showed more efficient activity than that of the corresponding flavonol glycosides, but not more than that of the corresponding aglycones in the three assays applied.  (+info)

Two new diterpenoids from Plectranthus nummularius Briq. (30/612)

Two new antioxidative diterpenoids, plectranthol A (3)[19-O-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-11,12-dihydroxy-20(10-->5)-abeo-abieta-1(10),6,8, 11,13-tetraene] and plectranthol B (4)[12-O-(3-methyl-2-butenoyl)-19-O-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-11-hydroxyabieta-8,11, 13-trienel along with two known diterpenoids, parvifloron E (1) and F (2) were isolated from the leaves of Plectranthus nummularius Briq. Antioxidative activities of the compounds were measured by the alpha,alpha-diphenyl-beta-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method.  (+info)

Hapten addition to an MHC class I-binding peptide causes substantial adjustments of the TCR structure of the responding CD8(+) T cells. (31/612)

T cell responses against hapten-modified peptides play an important role in the pathogenesis of certain diseases, including contact dermatitis and allergy. However, the structural features of TCRs recognizing bulky, potentially mobile hapten groups remain poorly defined. To analyze the structural basis of TCR recognition of defined hapten-modified peptides, the immunodominant octapeptide derived from vesicular stomatitis virus nucleoprotein (VSV8) was modified with a trinitrophenyl (TNP) group at the primary TCR contact residues (position 4 or 6) and used for immunization of mice carrying either the TCR alpha- or beta-chain of a VSV8 (unmodified)/H-2K(b)-specific CTL clone as a transgene. Such mice allow independent analysis of one TCR chain by maintaining the other fixed. The TCR V gene usage of the responding T cell population was specifically altered depending upon the presence of the TNP group and its position on the peptide. The CDR3 sequences of the TNP-modified peptide-specific TCRs showed a preferential J region usage in both the CDR3alpha and beta loops, indicating that the J regions of both CDR3s are critical for recognition of TNP-modified peptides. In contrast to our previous observations showing the prime importance of CDR3beta residues encoded by D-segment or N-addition nucleotides for recognition of position 6 of unmodified VSV8, our studies of TNP-modified peptides demonstrate the importance of the Jbeta region, while the Jalpha region was crucial for recognizing both TNP-modified and unmodified peptides. These data suggest that different structural strategies are utilized by the CDR3alpha and beta loops to allow interaction with a haptenated peptide.  (+info)

DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity of flavonoids obtained from some medicinal plants. (32/612)

A reactive oxygen species has been implicated in a range of human pathological diseases such as atherosclerosis and certain cancers. Flavonoids are reported to exhibit various biological activities, including antioxidative and free radical scavenging activities. Several flavonoids obtained from barley leaves, soybean and some medicinal plants, Silybum marianum, Sophorae Flos, Cinnamon, Ephedrae Herba and Scutellariae Radix, were tested for their DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity. The structure-activity relationships suggested that not only the numbers of hydroxy group but also the position of hydroxy group might be important for mediating potent activity.  (+info)