Risk Reduction of Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum via Antioxidant Properties Against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Cell Damage

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produce damage to all major cellular constituents. The antioxidant properties of the ethyl acetate fraction of Empetrum nigrum was assessed against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced cell damage. Empetrum extract was found to scavenge (1) intracellular ROS in cell system, (2) hydroxyl radicals generated by the Fenton reaction (FeSO₄ + H₂O₂), and (3) superoxide radicals generated by xanthine/xanthine oxidase in a cell-free system as detected by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry. Cell damage was produced by H₂O₂ treatment as evidenced by DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and increased protein carbonyl formation; however, Empetrum extract prevented H₂O₂-induced damage to these parameters. Empetrum extract increased viability of Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79-4) cells exposed to H₂O₂, as evidenced by decreased apoptotic nuclear fragmentation, and lower sub G₁ cell population. Further, Empetrum extract restored the cellular antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which were reduced by H₂O₂ treatment. In conclusion, Empetrum extract protected cells against H₂O₂-induced cell damage via antioxidant properties by scavenging ROS and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities.

This study was supported by a grant (IH-9-12-10018193) from the Korea Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Energy, and by the program of Basic Atomic Energy Research Institute (BAERI), which is a part of the Nuclear R&D programs grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Korea.