D-002 on antioxidant enzymes in liver and brain of rats

Resumen

Previous studies have demonstrated that oral administration of D-002 (5 to 100 mg/kg), a mixture of high molecular weight aliphatic alcohols isolated and purified from beeswax, inhibited in a dose dependent manner liver and brain in vivo and in vitro lipid peroxidation in rats. Triacontanol is its main component (26.63 %), followed by
octacosanol (17.4 %), dotriacontanol (16.95 %), hexacosanol (13.4 %), tetracosanol (13.24 %) and tetratriacontanol (2.23 %). In the present work, the effect of D-002 on the antioxidant enzymes in liver and brain was studied. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) was elevated in the soluble fraction from both tissues after D-002 administration. However, D-002 produced a more remarkable effect on mitochondrial (SOD) activity, reaching significant differences when compared with control group. Also, a significant increase in glutathione peroxidase (GPX) was observed in both tissues. However, D-002 had no effect on glutathione reductase (GR)
from liver and brain and on liver catalase (CA) activity. The results suggest that D002 can prevent lipid peroxidation in liver and brain by increasing the activity of Mn-SOD and GSH-peroxidase. However, information of the role of D002 in modifying the enzymes involved in free radical metabolism is still limited and further investigations are required to define the mechanism of action of the antiperoxidative effects of D002.