Antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective potential of agaro-oligosaccharides in <it>vitro </it>and in <it>vivo</it>

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Agaro-oligosaccharides derived from red seaweed polysaccharide have been reported to possess antioxidant activity. In order to assess the live protective effects of agar-oligosaccharides, we did both <it>in vitro </it>and...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhu Peng, Yan Xiaojun, Chen Haimin, Lin Jing
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2006-12-01
Series:Nutrition Journal
Online Access:http://www.nutritionj.com/content/5/1/31
Description
Summary:<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Agaro-oligosaccharides derived from red seaweed polysaccharide have been reported to possess antioxidant activity. In order to assess the live protective effects of agar-oligosaccharides, we did both <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>studies based on own-made agaro-oligosaccharides, and the structural information of this oligosaccharide was also determined.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Structure of agaro-oligosaccharides prepared with acid hydrolysis on agar was confirmed by matrix-assisted ultraviolet laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and NMR. The antioxidant effect of agaro-oligosaccharides on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assessed by 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Carbon tetrachloride was used to induce liver injury, some index including SOD, GSH-Px, MDA, AST, ALT were examined to determine the hepatoprotective effect of agaro-oligosaccharides.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Agaro-oligosaccharides we got were composed of odd polymerizations with molecular weights ranged from 500 to 2500. Results from intracellular test indicated that agaro-oligosaccharides could significantly scavenge the level of oxidants in the hepatocytes, more beneficially, also associated with the improvement of cell viability <it>In vivo </it>studies of the antioxidant effects on tissue peroxidative damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in rat model indicated that agaro-oligosaccharides could elevate the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and decrease the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (AST), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (ALT) significantly. At 400 mg/kg, MDA level reduced 44 % and 21 % in liver and heart, SOD and GSH-Px increased to highest in liver and serum, while ALT level decreased 22.16 % in serum.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Overall, the results of the present study indicate that agaro-oligosaccharides can exert their <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>hepatoprotective effect through scavenging oxidative damage induced by ROS.</p>
ISSN:1475-2891