Millimolar concentrations of ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate induced cytotoxicity against human glioblastoma T98G cells. Addition of hot water and sodium hydroxide extracts of the bark of Acer nikoense Maxim. synergistically enhanced the cytotoxic activity of ascorbate. Human peripheral blood lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear cells were relatively resistant to ascorbate, the Acer nikoense Maxim. extract, or a combination of them. The extracts stimulated the degradation of ascorbates via ascorbyl radical production, in parallel with their ability to stimulate the cytotoxic activity of ascorbate. The results suggest the medicinal efficacy of the Acer nikoense Maxim. extracts.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Radical scavenging activity of Acer nikoense Maxim. extract.

The effect of hot water and alkaline extracts of Acer nikoense Maxim. on the radical intensity of sodium ascorbate, superoxide anion (O2-)(produced by hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase reaction) and hydroxyl radical (-OH)(generated by Fenton reaction) was investigated using ESR spectroscopy. All these extracts produced radical(s) under alkaline conditions and enhanced the radical intensity of sodium ascorbate. Among these fractions, Fr. I showed the highest stimulation effect, which coincided with its higher degradation rate and capacity to enhance the cytotoxic activity of ascorbate. These fractions also dose-dependently reduced the radical intensity of O2- and -OH. The present study demonstrates that Acer nikoense Maxim. extracts potentiate both radical intensity and apoptosis-inducing activity of ascorbate.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Enhancement of radical intensity and cytotoxic activity of ascorbate by Crataegus cuneata Sieb et. Zucc. extracts.

The radical modulation activity of hot water and NaOH extracts of the thorn apple of Crataegus Cuneata Sieb. et. Zucc. was investigated, using ESR spectroscopy. The radical intensity of sodium ascorbate was slightly reduced at lower concentrations of the extracts, but it was synergistically enhanced at higher concentrations. Higher concentrations of the extracts also synergistically stimulated the cytotoxic action of sodium ascorbate against human oral squamous carcinoma and salivary gland tumor cell lines. All these extracts effectively scavenged superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical, produced by hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase and Fenton reaction, respectively, and their activity was comparable with that of lignins prepared by the same procedure from other plants. These data further supports the medicinal efficacy of plant extracts.

Antineoplastic Agents↗