Background: Vascular remodeling generated by reactive oxygen species contributes to aneurysm formation. The NADPH oxidase system is a major source of superoxide anion not only in phagocytes, but also in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. Polymorphisms of p22phox, an essential component of the NADPH oxidase system, are found to be associated with atherosclerosis, while a recent study found a significant association between the 214C>T polymorphism and the occurrence of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. We conducted a case-control study to investigate the relationship of five polymorphisms of the p22phox gene and the occurrence of cerebral aneurysms. Methods: The study population consisted of 113 patients with intracranial aneurysms and 53 control subjects. The 214C>T polymorphism was investigated by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, while polymorphisms 381T>C, 480G>A, 521C>T, and *24A>G were analyzed by direct sequencing of exon 6 and adjacent intronic sequences. Results: The analysis of a primary study sample comprising 35 cases and 28 controls failed to show a significant association between any of the five polymorphisms and the occurrence of intracranial aneurysms using both allele frequencies and genotypes (all nominal p > 0.05). Although there was a deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in cases at the 521C>T locus (nominal p < 0.05), this could not be confirmed in a second study sample of 78 patients. Haplotypes were constructed regarding three frequent polymorphisms (214C>T, 521C>T, and *24A>G); haplotype frequencies in cases and controls were not significantly different. Conclusion: Although polymorphisms of the p22phox gene located in the coding region and the 3′-untranslated region were reported to be associated with atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular disease, our data provide evidence that there is no association between these polymorphisms and the occurrence of cerebral aneurysms in Caucasians. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Background: Vascular remodeling generated by reactive oxygen species contributes to aneurysm formation. The NADPH oxidase system is a major source of superoxide anion not only in phagocytes, but also in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. Polymorphisms of p22phox, an essential component of the NADPH oxidase system, are found to be associated with atherosclerosis, while a recent study found a significant association between the 214C>T polymorphism and the occurrence of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. We conducted a case-control study to investigate the relationship of five polymorphisms of the p22phox gene and the occurrence of cerebral aneurysms. Methods: The study population consisted of 113 patients with intracranial aneurysms and 53 control subjects. The 214C>T polymorphism was investigated by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, while polymorphisms 381T>C, 480G>A, 521C>T, and *24A>G were analyzed by direct sequencing of exon 6 and adjacent intronic sequences. Results: The analysis of a primary study sample comprising 35 cases and 28 controls failed to show a significant association between any of the five polymorphisms and the occurrence of intracranial aneurysms using both allele frequencies and genotypes (all nominal p > 0.05). Although there was a deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in cases at the 521C>T locus (nominal p < 0.05), this could not be confirmed in a second study sample of 78 patients. Haplotypes were constructed regarding three frequent polymorphisms (214C>T, 521C>T, and *24A>G); haplotype frequencies in cases and controls were not significantly different. Conclusion: Although polymorphisms of the p22phox gene located in the coding region and the 3′-untranslated region were reported to be associated with atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular disease, our data provide evidence that there is no association between these polymorphisms and the occurrence of cerebral aneurysms in Caucasians. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Η νευρολογικές διαταραχές και κυρίως η παραπληγία, αποτελούν τις πιο καταστροφικές επιπλοκές των επεμβάσεων στη θωρακο-κοιλιακή αορτή. Η διαδικασία ισχαιμίας/επαναιμάτωσης κατά τις επεμβάσεις αυτές λόγω του αποκλεισμού της αορτής, προκαλεί την ανάπτυξη τοξικών ελεύθερων ριζών οξυγόνου φαινόμενο που ορίζει το οξειδωτικό stress. Ο σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης είναι ο καθορισμός και η ανίχνευση των ελευθέρων ριζών, αλλά και η επίδραση της Αμιφοστίνης, ενός αντιοξειδωτικού παράγοντα της κατηγορίας των θειολών. Μέθοδος: Η μέθοδος αφορά δεκαοκτώ αρσενικούς κονίκλους που υποβάλλονται σε ισχαιμία του νωτιαίου μυελού με αποκλεισμό της αορτής με τη χρήση ενδο-αορτικού ασκού. Ο ασκός προωθείται μέσω της μηριαίας αρτηρίας σε επίπεδο αμέσως κάτωθεν της αριστεράς υποκλειδίου αρτηρίας. Τα ζώα αποτελούσαν τρείς ομάδες. Η Ομάδα Ι αποτέλεσε την ομάδα ελέγχου. Στην Ομάδα ΙΙ η αορτή αποκλείσθηκε για 30΄και ακολούθησε επαναιμάτωση για 75΄. Στην Ομάδα ΙΙΙ χορηγήθηκε Αμιφοστίνη μέσω του καθετήρα αποκλεισμού κατά το δεύτερο ήμισυ της περιόδου αποκλεισμού (των 30΄). Στο τέλος της επαναιμάτωσης δείγματα νωτιαίου μυελού υποβλήθηκαν σε ανάλογη επεξεργασία για την ανίχνευση ελευθέρων ριζών οξυγόνου με τη χρήση υδροεθιδίνης και παραγώγων λιπιδικής υπεροξείδωσης με ιδιαίτερα ευαίσθητη μέθοδο φθορισμού. Αποτελέσματα: Τα αποτελέσματα των μετρήσεων έδειξαν αύξηση του υπεροξειδίου του οξυγόνου στην Ομάδα ΙΙ κατά 27.43% σχετικά με την Ομάδα Ι για να ακολουθήσει μείωση στην Ομάδα ΙΙΙ κατά 42.55% σε σχέση με την Ομάδα ΙΙ και κατά 15.25% από την Ομάδα ΙΙΙ. Η μέτρηση ενώσεων λιπιδικής υπεροξείδωσης που αντιδρούν με θειοβαρβιτουρικό οξύ (TBARSassay) έδειξε αύξηση κατά 55.3% στην Ομάδα ΙΙ σε σχέση με την Ομάδα Ι και μείωση κατά 30.3% στην Ομάδα ΙΙΙ σε σχέση με την Ομάδα ΙΙ. Η στατιστική ανάλυση και των δύο μεθόδων ανέδειξε σημαντική διαφορά με ( p<0.05). Συμπεράσματα: Ο αποκλεισμός της κατιούσας αορτής σε επίπεδο αμέσως κάτωθεν της αριστεράς υποκλειδίου αρτηρίας, προκαλεί αναμφισβήτητα ισχαιμία του νωτιαίου μυελού. Η ανάπτυξη οξειδωτικού stressως αποτέλεσμα της διαδικασίας ισχαιμία/επαναιμάτωση ανιχνεύεται μέσω των ριζών υπεροξειδίου και παραγώγων λιπιδικής υπεροξείδωσης. Η έγχυση Αμιφοστίνης προτείνεται ως αντιοξειδωτικός παράγων που μπορεί να ανιχνεύσει και να δεσμεύσει τις ελεύθερες ρίζες οξυγόνου κατά το οξειδωτικό stress που προκαλεί η ισχαιμία /επαναιμάτωση του νωτιαίου μυελού. / Paraplegia is the most devastating complication of thoraco-abdominal aortic procedures. An ischemia-reperfusion procedure is known to elevate free radicals causing oxidative stress. The aim of this study is to determine and to detect the free radical products and to examine the influence of Amifostine, a triphosphate agent, on oxidative stress of spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion in rabbits. Methods: Eighteen male, New Zealand white rabbits were anesthetized and spinal cord ischemia was induced by inflation of a coronary artery balloon catheter, advanced to descending thoracic aorta through the femoral artery. The animals were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group I functioned as control. In group II the aorta was occluded for 30 minutes and then re-perfused for 75 min. In group III, 500mg Amifostine was infused into the distal aorta during the second half-time of ischemia period. At the end of reperfusion all animals were sacrificed and spinal cord specimens were examined for superoxide radicals by an ultra sensitive fluorescent assay. Results: Superoxide radical levels ranged, in group I between 1.52 and 1.76 (1.64±0.10), in group II between 1.96 and 2.50 (2.10±0.21), and in group III (amifostine) between 1.21 and 1.60 (1.40±0.13) (p=0.00), showing a decrease of 43% in the Group of Amifostine. A lipid peroxidation marker measurement ranged, in group I between 0.28 and 0.31 (0.30±0.01), in group II between 0.427 and 0.497 (0.466±0.024), and in group III (amifostine) between 0.343 and 0.357 (0.36±0.005) (p<0.00), showing a decrease of 38% after Amifostine administration. Conclusions: Occlusion of aorta below left subclavian artery causes spinal cause ischemia without the interference of collateral perfusion. Modified use of hydrο-ethidine is a useful assay for the detection of superoxide radicals. By direct and indirect methods of measuring the oxidative stress of spinal cord after ischemia/reperfusion, it is suggested that intra-aortic Amifostine infusion significantly attenuated the spinal cord oxidative injury.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Biomedical Technology in the Faculty Health and Wellness Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013 / The accurate and consistent measurement of antioxidants is crucial to evaluating their biological role in the prevention and delay of cancer and other pathological conditions. Hence, the performance of the analytical method utilized should be evaluated for acceptable levels of accuracy, precision and other performance parameters according to internationally accepted standards. Additionally, the measure and influence of existing errors should be evaluated and the method optimized to reduce such errors. In furtherance of this vital aim, this research project sought out to optimize and validate two bio-analytical assays for the measurement of total antioxidant capacity and L-ascorbic acid (L-AA), respectively in food commodities. The validation procedure was performed in accordance with ISO 17025 international standard. The first study in this thesis evaluated, optimized and validated the hydrophilic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (H-ORACFL) assay using fluorescein for total antioxidant capacity in various food and beverage products. The assay demonstrated good results with regard to accuracy, precision, linearity, specificity, limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) and robustness. The extraction solvent (60% ethanol) recovered excellent antioxidant yields for most samples tested. The optimization of the method in terms of temperature and sample usage on the micro-plate significantly (p<0.05) reduced errors and subsequently improved precision substantially.

Orientador: Flavia Maria Netto / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T21:19:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva_FernandaGuimaraesDrummonde_M.pdf: 1363127 bytes, checksum: 68b1a97c95798f4425019ee900814160 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Existem evidências numerosas sobre o papel dos radicais livres em uma série de condições patológicas, incluindo envelhecimento, câncer, esclerose múltipla, doenças cardiovasculares. Hidrolisados protéicos de diferentes fontes têm sido estudados por seu potencial antioxidante. A atuação antioxidante da proteína, na maioria das vezes, encontra-se limitada devido à conformação espacial, que concentra resíduos capazes de neutralizar radicais livres no interior da molécula, dificultando o acesso das espécies reativas aos centros nucleofílicos. A hidrólise da proteína contribui para aumentar a exposição desses resíduos de aminoácidos, aumentando sua atuação como antioxidante. Compostos fenólicos podem estar presentes em hidrolisados proteicos de origem vegetal, devido a sua associação com as proteínas. Métodos in vitro que simulam as condições do trato gastrointestinal permitem estudar como a digestão pode interferir na atividade antioxidante de peptídeos e compostos fenólicos. O presente trabalho tem como objetivos obter hidrolisados proteicos com capacidade antioxidante a partir da farinha de linhaça e avaliar o efeito da digestão in vitro pode interferir nessa atividade. A farinha de linhaça marrom foi desengordurada, obtendo-se a farinha de linhaça marrom desengordurada (FLMD). O concentrado proteico de linhaça (CPL) foi obtido a partir da FLMD por extração alcalina e precipitação no ponto isoelétrico seguida de neutralização. Para obtenção dos hidrolisados proteicos (HPL), a partir do CPL, com Alcalase, foi realizado um delineamento composto central rotacional (DCCR) 2². As variáveis independentes foram pH que variou entre 7,5 a 9,5 e relação enzima: substrato (E:S) que variou de 1:150 a 1:30. As variáveis dependentes foram grau de hidrólise (GH), teor de substâncias redutoras do reagente de Folin-Ciocalteau e atividade antioxidante, determinada por FRAP e ORAC. Teor de substâncias redutoras e atividade antioxidante foram avaliados a partir dos extratos aquosos e metanólico (metanol 70%). Os hidrolisados de maior atividade antioxidante, a FLMD e o CPL foram submetidos à digestão in vitro, simulando as condições da digestão gastrintestinal. As amostras antes e após a digestão in vitro foram caracterizadas por eletroforese em sistema SDS-PAGE Tricina e por cromatografia liquida de alta eficiência de fase reversa (HPLC- RP). O teor de substâncias redutoras e da atividade antioxidante das amostras FLMD, CPL e HPL foram avaliados antes e após a digestão in vitro. As condições ótimas para obtenção de HPL de maior GH (21,0%) são pH entre 7,5 e 8,0 e E:S entre 1:60 e 1:30, indicando que a faixa de pH ótimo da enzima e a alta E:S favorecem maior hidrólise do CPL. Para obtenção de HPL com maior teor de substâncias redutoras para os extratos aquoso (24 mg EAG/ g HPL) e metanólico (20 mg EAG/ g HPL) as condições ótimas são pH ~ 8,5 /E:S 1:30. Este resultado parece estar relacionado à liberação de compostos fenólicos ligados a proteína e também de peptídeos durante a hidrólise. Açúcares e aminoácidos aromáticos presentes no hidrolisado podem interferir na reação e superestimar o teor de fenóis dos HPL. A maior atividade antioxidante determinada pelo método de FRAP para o extrato aquoso (42 mg SF/ g HPL) se dá nas condições de pH ~ 9,5/E:S ~1:150 e para o extrato metanólico (40 mg SF/ g HPL) pH entre 8,5 e 9,0/E:S entre 1:90 a 1:150. Para o método de ORAC, as condições ótimas para maior atividade antioxidante no extrato aquoso (300 µmol TE/ g HPL) são pH entre 7,5 a 9,5/E:S ~ 1:30 ou ~1:150 e para o extrato metanólico (330 µmol TE/ g HPL) são pH ~ 8,5/E:S entre 1:150 e 1:30. Os hidrolisados de maior atividade antioxidante foram os obtidos em pH 8,5/E:S 1:90, e em pH 9,2/E:S 1:133 denominados HPL 0 e HPL 3, respectivamente. Para a FLMD, CPL e os hidrolisados, após a digestão in vitro, observou-se que o teor de substâncias redutoras totais aumentou (9 a 20 vezes) para todas as amostras. O teor de substâncias redutoras do CPL (~24 mg EAG/ g amostra), em ambos os extratos, após a digestão in vitro se igualou ao teor dos hidrolisados (~23 mg EAG/ g amostra). Este resultado sugere que tanto a hidrólise com Alcalase quanto o processo digestório liberam compostos redutores, dentre eles fenólicos da proteína de linhaça. A atividade antioxidante dos extratos de FLMD e CPL, determinada por FRAP, também aumentou (de 3 a 10 vezes) após a digestão, mas não se igualou à atividade antioxidante dos hidrolisados (48 mg SF/g amostra). No entanto, o CPL apresentou atividade antioxidante determinada por ORAC semelhante à dos hidrolisados no extrato aquoso (~420,24 µmol TE/ g amostra) e 10 % maior que o encontrado para os hidrolisados (~365 µmol TE/ g amostra) no extrato metanólico. Após a digestão in vitro, os hidrolisados apresentaram a maior atividade antioxidante medida por FRAP (50 mg SF/ g amostra), e o CPL, a maior atividade determinada pelo método de ORAC (~430 µmol TE/ g amostra). Estes resultados sugerem o processo digestório é tão ou mais eficiente que a Alcalase em liberar os compostos com atividade redutora no CPL. Uma vez que a metodologia de determinação da atividade antioxidante por ORAC tem maior proximidade com o mecanismo de oxirredução que ocorre in vivo, esses resultados sugerem o uso do CPL como melhor produto protéico da linhaça com maior potencial antioxidante para a formulação de nutracêuticos e alimentos funcionais / Abstract: There are several evidences which indicate the role of free radicals on a series of pathological conditions, including aging, cancer, multiple sclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Hydrolysates from different sources have been studied because of their antioxidant potential. The antioxidant activity of the protein, in most cases, is limited due to their conformation, which concentrates residues capable of neutralize free radicals in the molecule¿s core, hampering the access of the reactive species to nucleophilic sites. The protein hydrolysis contributes to increasing the exposure of these amino acid residues, increasing their role as antioxidants. Phenolic compounds may also be present in vegetable protein hydrolysates because of their association with proteins. In vitro methods that simulate the conditions of the gastrointestinal digestion are an important way to evaluate how the digestion affects the antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds and peptides. This study aims at obtaining hydrolysates with antioxidant capacity from defatted flaxseed flour and evaluate the effect of the in vitro digestion on this activity. The brown flaxseed flour was defatted, resulting in the brown defatted flaxseed meal (BDFM). The flaxseed protein concentrate (FPC) was obtained from the BDFM by alkaline extraction and precipitation at the isoelectric point followed by neutralization. To obtain the flaxseed protein hydrolysates (FPL), using FPC and Alcalase, a central composite rotational design (DCCR) was performed. The independent variables were pH ranging from 7.5 to 9.5 and enzyme: substrate ratio (E: S) that ranged from 1:150 to 1:30. The dependent variables were the degree of hydrolysis (DH), total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, determined by FRAP and ORAC. Phenolic and antioxidant activity were evaluated from the aqueous and methanol (70% methanol). The hydrolysates with the highest antioxidant activity, the CPL FLMD were submitted to the in vitro digestion. The samples obtained before and after the in vitro digestion were characterized by electrophoresis SDS-PAGE- tricine and HPLC. The total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of FLMD, CPL and HPL were evaluated before and after in vitro digestion. The optimum conditions to obtain HPL with the highest GDH (21.0%) are pH (7.5-8) and E:S ratio (1:60-1:30), which indicates that the Alcalase optimum pH and highest E:S ratio collaborates to highest hydrolysis of CPL. To obtain HPL with higher content of Folin-Ciocalteau reducing compounds content in aqueous (EAG 24 mg / g HPL) and methanol (20 mg EAG / g HPL) extracts, the optimum conditions were pH ~ 8.5 / E: S 1:30. This result seems to be related to the release of phenolic compounds bound to protein and also of peptides during hydrolysis. The highest antioxidant activity determined by the FRAP method in the aqueous extract (42 mg SF / g HPL) occurs under pH ~ 9.5 / E: S ~ 1:150 and the methanol extract (40 mg SF / g HPL) pH 8.5-9.0 / E: S 1:90-1:150. For the ORAC method, optimum conditions for increased antioxidant activity in aqueous extract (300 µmol TE / g HPL) are pH 7.5-9.5 / E: S ~ 1:30 or 1:150 and the methanol extract (330 µmol TE / g HPL) are pH ~ 8.5 / E: S 1:30-1:150. The hydrolysates with the highest antioxidant activities were obtained at pH 8.5 / E: S 1:90, and at pH 9.2 / E: S 1:133 denominated HPL ) and HPL 3, respectively. For FLMD, CPL and hydrolysates, after in vitro digestion, the content increased (9-20 times) for all samples. The Folin-Ciocalteau reducing capacity of the CPL (EAG ~ 24 mg / g sample) in both extracts after in vitro digestion equaled the content of hydrolysates (EAG ~ 23 mg / g sample). This result suggests that both hydrolysis with Alcalase and the digestion process are able to release phenolic compounds from the flaxseed products. The antioxidant activity of extracts of FLMD, CPL determined by FRAP, also increased (from 3 to 10 times) after digestion, but did not reached the antioxidant activity of hydrolysates (48 mg SF / g sample). However, when the activity was determined by ORAC, the FPC showed value similar to the hydrolysates, measured on the aqueous extract (~ 420.24 µmol TE / g sample) and 10% higher than on the methanol extract (~ 365 µmol TE / g sample). After in vitro digestion, hydrolysates showed the highest antioxidant activity measured by FRAP (SF 50 mg / g sample), and the FPC, the highest activity determined by ORAC method (~ 430 micromol TE / g sample). These results suggest that digestive process are equally or more effective than Alcalase in releasing peptides and phenolic compounds present in the FPC. Since the methodology for determining the antioxidant activity by ORAC utilizes a biologically relevant radical source, these results suggest the use of FPC as the best protein product of flaxseed with potential antioxidant in the formulation of nutraceuticals and functional foods / Mestrado / Nutrição Experimental e Aplicada à Tecnologia de Alimentos / Mestre em Alimentos e Nutrição

The evolution of aerobic metabolic processes unavoidably led to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS have the ability to cause harmful oxidative damage to biomolecules. Increased ROS generation and subsequent oxidative stress have been associated with aging and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases as a result of the extreme sensitivity of the central nervous system to damage from ROS. Antioxidant defence systems have co–evolved with aerobic metabolic processes to counteract oxidative damage inflicted by ROS. The impact of neurodegenerative disorders on society is increasing rapidly as the life expectancy of the global population increases. In this day and age, a much younger group of the population is also experiencing neurodegenerative symptoms as a result of the harmful effect of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on the central nervous system. Plants are an invaluable source of medicinal compounds. The use of plants for their healing properties is rooted in ancient times. The aim of this study was to select from twenty one plants, the plant with the most promising antioxidant activity and to determine whether extracts of this plant could act as free radical scavengers, comparing the results to Trolox, a known free radical scavenger. The next step was to isolate and characterize a compound from an extract exhibiting promising antioxidant activity. Bioassay–guided fractionation was followed to achieve this. During screening trials, twenty one plants, namely Berula erecta, Heteromorpha arborescens, Tarchonanthus camphoratus, Vernonia oligocephala, Gymnosporia buxifolia, Acacia karroo, Elephantorrhiza elephantina, Erythrina zeyheri, Leonotis leonurus, Plectranthus ecklonii, P. rehmanii, P. venteri, Salvia auretia, S. runcinata, Solenostemon latifolius, S. rotundifolius, Plumbago auriculata, Clematis brachiata, Vangueria infausta, Physalis peruviana and Lippia javanica were selected from literature, based on reported antioxidant activity within the plant families, for screening of their antioxidant activity. One hundred and ten extracts were prepared from the leaves, using Soxhlet extraction and the solvents petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and ethanol (EtOH), consecutively. The focus during initial screening trials was on chemistry–based assays. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays were employed for the primary screening of the one hundred and ten leaf extracts. The ORAC assay was used to determine whether the plant extracts were able to scavenge peroxyl radicals and the FRAP assay was used to determine the reducing abilities of the extracts. Quantification of the peroxyl radical scavenging activity by the ORAC assay revealed that activity was observed for most of the extracts, with the ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of L. javanica exhibiting the most promising activity. This pattern of activity was also found with the reducing capacity evaluated by the FRAP assay in which the EtOAc and EtOH extracts of L. javanica also exhibited the most promising activity. L. javanica was selected for further study by screening for biological activity, employing the nitro–blue tetrazolium (NBT) assay and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. Using a cyanide model to induce neurotoxic effects in rat brain homogenate, the neuroprotective properties of the extracts of L. javanica leaves were examined using the NBT assay and compared to that of Trolox. The NBT assay determines the level of superoxide anions. All the extracts of L. javanica significantly reduced superoxide anion generation at all concentrations used. The petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts, at all concentrations, reduced superoxide anion generation to values lower than that of the control, suggesting that these extracts may be able to attenuate normal free radical processes in the brain. The petroleum ether extract exhibited the most promising activity at a concentration of 1.25 and 2.5 mg/ml and also exhibited similar results as the ethyl acetate extract at a lower concentration than the ethyl acetate extract (2.5 mg/ml compared to 5 mg/ml). A toxin–solution consisting of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), iron(III)chloride (FeCl3) and ascorbic acid was used to induce lipid peroxidation and the ability of the extracts of the leaves of L. javanica to attenuate lipid peroxidation was investigated in rat brain homogenate and compared to that of Trolox. All of the extracts of L. javanica significantly attenuated toxininduced lipid peroxidation at all concentrations used. All of the extracts were also able to significantly attenuate toxin–induced lipid peroxidation to values lower than that of the control. These results suggest that all of the extracts of L. javanica possess the ability to attenuate not only toxin–induced lipid peroxidation, but also lipid peroxidation that occurs during normal processes in the brain. The petroleum ether extract was subjected to bioassay–guided fractionation using column and thin–layer chromatography and the NBT and TBARS assays. Fraction DD1 was investigated by means of nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared and mass spectrometry. The exact structure of fraction DD1 was not elucidated. Considering all the results, it is clear that L. javanica shows great potential as a medicinal plant with antioxidant activity and may therefore be beneficial in diminishing the destructive oxidative effects inflicted by free radicals. There are however still many compounds to be isolated from L. javanica. Key words: Verbenaceae, Lippia javanica, antioxidant, neurodegeneration, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), nitro–blue tetrazolium assay (NBT), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay (TBARS). / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutical Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The evolution of aerobic metabolic processes unavoidably led to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS have the ability to cause harmful oxidative damage to biomolecules. Increased ROS generation and subsequent oxidative stress have been associated with aging and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases as a result of the extreme sensitivity of the central nervous system to damage from ROS. Antioxidant defence systems have co–evolved with aerobic metabolic processes to counteract oxidative damage inflicted by ROS. The impact of neurodegenerative disorders on society is increasing rapidly as the life expectancy of the global population increases. In this day and age, a much younger group of the population is also experiencing neurodegenerative symptoms as a result of the harmful effect of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on the central nervous system. Plants are an invaluable source of medicinal compounds. The use of plants for their healing properties is rooted in ancient times. The aim of this study was to select from twenty one plants, the plant with the most promising antioxidant activity and to determine whether extracts of this plant could act as free radical scavengers, comparing the results to Trolox, a known free radical scavenger. The next step was to isolate and characterize a compound from an extract exhibiting promising antioxidant activity. Bioassay–guided fractionation was followed to achieve this. During screening trials, twenty one plants, namely Berula erecta, Heteromorpha arborescens, Tarchonanthus camphoratus, Vernonia oligocephala, Gymnosporia buxifolia, Acacia karroo, Elephantorrhiza elephantina, Erythrina zeyheri, Leonotis leonurus, Plectranthus ecklonii, P. rehmanii, P. venteri, Salvia auretia, S. runcinata, Solenostemon latifolius, S. rotundifolius, Plumbago auriculata, Clematis brachiata, Vangueria infausta, Physalis peruviana and Lippia javanica were selected from literature, based on reported antioxidant activity within the plant families, for screening of their antioxidant activity. One hundred and ten extracts were prepared from the leaves, using Soxhlet extraction and the solvents petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and ethanol (EtOH), consecutively. The focus during initial screening trials was on chemistry–based assays. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays were employed for the primary screening of the one hundred and ten leaf extracts. The ORAC assay was used to determine whether the plant extracts were able to scavenge peroxyl radicals and the FRAP assay was used to determine the reducing abilities of the extracts. Quantification of the peroxyl radical scavenging activity by the ORAC assay revealed that activity was observed for most of the extracts, with the ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of L. javanica exhibiting the most promising activity. This pattern of activity was also found with the reducing capacity evaluated by the FRAP assay in which the EtOAc and EtOH extracts of L. javanica also exhibited the most promising activity. L. javanica was selected for further study by screening for biological activity, employing the nitro–blue tetrazolium (NBT) assay and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. Using a cyanide model to induce neurotoxic effects in rat brain homogenate, the neuroprotective properties of the extracts of L. javanica leaves were examined using the NBT assay and compared to that of Trolox. The NBT assay determines the level of superoxide anions. All the extracts of L. javanica significantly reduced superoxide anion generation at all concentrations used. The petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts, at all concentrations, reduced superoxide anion generation to values lower than that of the control, suggesting that these extracts may be able to attenuate normal free radical processes in the brain. The petroleum ether extract exhibited the most promising activity at a concentration of 1.25 and 2.5 mg/ml and also exhibited similar results as the ethyl acetate extract at a lower concentration than the ethyl acetate extract (2.5 mg/ml compared to 5 mg/ml). A toxin–solution consisting of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), iron(III)chloride (FeCl3) and ascorbic acid was used to induce lipid peroxidation and the ability of the extracts of the leaves of L. javanica to attenuate lipid peroxidation was investigated in rat brain homogenate and compared to that of Trolox. All of the extracts of L. javanica significantly attenuated toxininduced lipid peroxidation at all concentrations used. All of the extracts were also able to significantly attenuate toxin–induced lipid peroxidation to values lower than that of the control. These results suggest that all of the extracts of L. javanica possess the ability to attenuate not only toxin–induced lipid peroxidation, but also lipid peroxidation that occurs during normal processes in the brain. The petroleum ether extract was subjected to bioassay–guided fractionation using column and thin–layer chromatography and the NBT and TBARS assays. Fraction DD1 was investigated by means of nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared and mass spectrometry. The exact structure of fraction DD1 was not elucidated. Considering all the results, it is clear that L. javanica shows great potential as a medicinal plant with antioxidant activity and may therefore be beneficial in diminishing the destructive oxidative effects inflicted by free radicals. There are however still many compounds to be isolated from L. javanica. Key words: Verbenaceae, Lippia javanica, antioxidant, neurodegeneration, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), nitro–blue tetrazolium assay (NBT), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay (TBARS). / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutical Chemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.