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Objective: We aimed to investigate the effect of Sicyos angulatus (SA) ethanolic extracts as antioxidants and potential treatments for liver disease., Methods: To establish a mouse model of liver injury, C57BL/6 male mice were injected via the caudal vein with a single dose of concanavalin A (Con A, 15 mg kg -1 ). SA extracts were administered once by oral gavage 30 min before Con A injection., Results: In vitro studies showed that SA decreased tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. SA administration reduced plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, as well as hepatic ROS levels, in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, SA increased the activities of the hepatic antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, SA treatment reduced pro-apoptotic protein levels. Con A-mediated cytosolic release of Smac/DIABLO and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), which are markers of necrosis, were dramatically decreased in HepG2 cells treated with SA., Conclusion: SA ameliorated liver injury and might be a good strategy for the treatment of liver injury.

The phenolic compounds of many fruits have been known to be efficient cellular protective antioxidants. In this study, antioxidative and antiviral properties of flowering cherry cultivars (Prunus yedoensis, Prunus sargentii, Prunus lannesiana, and Prunus cerasus) in Korea were investigated. The antioxidant property was assayed for specific activities including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) hydroxy radical scavenging activity, reducing power capacity, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) like activity. In addition, antiviral activity was determined by inhibition studies on the infection cycle of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), measured as minimum concentration of cherry extracts that inhibited 50% of cytopathic effect (CPE) on PEDV. Our results show that the four varieties of cherries contain substantially high antioxidants and antiviral activities. In particular, P. cerasus contains higher antioxidants and antiviral activities as well as polyphenolic content than other varieties. Our data indicate that Korean native cherry cultivars could be beneficial supplements of dietary antioxidants and natural antiviral agents.

Daily consumption of an antioxidant-rich leafy vegetable mix (LVM) was assessed for beneficial effects on plasma lipid profiles, tissue lipid peroxidation, and oxidative DNA damage in C57BL/6J mice fed a high fat and high cholesterol diet (20% fat and 1% cholesterol, wt/wt) for 4 weeks. The LVM contained beet leaf, angelica, red leaf lettuce, dandelion, green cos lettuce, lollo rosso, romaine lettuce (12.5%, respectively), scotch kale, and red kale (6.25%, respectively). The mice (n = 16) were randomly divided into either the control (high fat and cholesterol diet without LVM) or the LVM (high fat and cholesterol diet with 8% LVM supplement) groups after a 1-week acclimation. Lipid peroxidation as measured by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in the plasma, liver, heart, and kidney was significantly lower. Antioxidants (glutathione and beta-carotene) and antioxidant enzyme activities (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase) were improved in mice fed LVM diet. In the comet assay, tail extent moment, olive tail moment, and tail length were significantly less in the hepatocyte and lymphocyte DNA of the LVM group, indicating the beneficial effect of LVM on the resistance of hepatocytes and lymphocytes DNA to oxidative damage. Findings from the present study suggest that dietary supplementation with LVM may be useful for protecting cells from lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage.

Lipid oxidation and color stability of meats treated with irradiated phytic acid were investigated during storage for 2 weeks at 4 degrees C. The phytic acid in deionized distilled water (DDW) was degraded by irradiation at 10 and 20 kGy, and the irradiated phytic acid showed a strong antiradical activity. For measuring the antioxidant effects of irradiated phytic acid in food models, beef and pork were prepared with DDW (control), irradiated (10 and 20 kGy) or non-irradiated phytic acid, and ascorbic acid as a model system. Irradiated phytic acid significantly inhibited the lipid oxidation in meats compared to the control and ascorbic acid treated samples during storage (P < 0.05). The redness of the meats treated with phytic acid had a higher value than did the control and ascorbic acid treated samples, but a significant difference was not observed in the samples treated with phytic acid regardless of irradiation treatment. Irradiated phytic acid was also effective in inhibiting the loss of heme iron and metmyoglobin formation during storage. Results indicated that irradiation might be helpful for improving the antioxidant activity of phytic acid in meats.

To improve the storage safety of two types of ground beef patty popular in Korea (general beef patties and bulgogi patties), we added various antioxidants (200 ppm; including butylated hydroxyanisole, ascorbyl palmitate, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene) to typical formulations of patties, cooked the patties to 70 degrees C, and irradiated them at a dose of 1.5 or 3 kGy. During 30 d of storage at 5 degrees C, the number of aerobic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria were determined using total aerobic plate count and phenyl ethyl alcohol-sucrose agar, respectively. The concentration of thiobarbituric acid was also determined in each type of patty. No colonies were observed in patties irradiated at 3 kGy regardless of which antioxidant was added. In control patties and patties with butylated hydroxyanisole that were irradiated at a dose of 1.5 kGy, growth of microorganisms appeared to be more rapid than in patties with natural antioxidants. The microbiological safety of nonirradiated patties could not be ensured for a period of 20 d. Lipid oxidation was retarded in both types of patty when an antioxidant was added. Ascorbyl palmitate had the strongest antioxidant effect among the natural antioxidants. However, butylated hydroxyanisole was more effective than ascorbyl palmitate when used in an equal amount.