Protective effect of red-stemmed type of Ipomoea aquatica Forsk against CCl4-induced oxidative damage in mice

J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2011;57(4):306-10. doi: 10.3177/jnsv.57.306.

Abstract

Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk; I. aquatica) of the green-stemmed type (green type) is widely consumed, but there also exists a red-stemmed variety (red type). In the present study, the antioxidant capacity of the red type was compared to that of the green type in carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-treated mice. CCl(4)-induced thiobarbituric acid reactive substrate (TBARS) formation in the liver was significantly suppressed in mice fed 5% red-type I. aquatica, while the green type showed no effect. Hydrophobic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (H-ORAC(FL)) in the red type showed a lower level than that in the green type; however, lipophilic ORAC (L-ORAC(FL)) and total-ORAC(FL) levels were significantly higher in the red type than in the green type. α-Tocopherol, anthocyanidin/proanthocyanidin, and β-carotene contents were all significantly higher in the red type than in the green type. These results suggest that the wild red-type I. aquatica contains certain lipophilic components that exert antioxidant capacities not only in vitro but also in vivo. Such effective components in the red type would be beneficial phytochemicals for suppressing several diseases related to oxidative stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthocyanins / analysis
  • Anthocyanins / pharmacology
  • Anthocyanins / therapeutic use
  • Antioxidants / analysis
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Carbon Tetrachloride
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / drug therapy*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / metabolism
  • Ipomoea / chemistry*
  • Ipomoea / classification
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Plant Stems
  • Species Specificity
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / metabolism
  • alpha-Tocopherol / analysis
  • alpha-Tocopherol / pharmacology
  • alpha-Tocopherol / therapeutic use
  • beta Carotene / analysis
  • beta Carotene / pharmacology
  • beta Carotene / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anthocyanins
  • Antioxidants
  • Plant Extracts
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • beta Carotene
  • Carbon Tetrachloride
  • alpha-Tocopherol