Antioxidant effect of pimpinella anisum and cinnamomum zeylanicum on cell membrane of hepatocytes, LDL, and nonenzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin

Background & Objectives: Free radicals especially reactive oxygen metabolites can damage DNA, proteins, enzymes, and membrane lipids.  Lipid peroxidation in LDL and hepatocyte membrane may be involved in atherosclerosis and hepatic disease, respectively. nonenzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin may be involved in complications  of diabetes. Antioxidants including vitamin E may inhibit such reactions. Due to oxidant-antioxidant imbalance, free radicals may cause destructive effects. We studied the antioxidant effects  of pimpinella anisum and cinnamomum zeylanicum on cell membrane of hepatocytes, LDL, and nonenzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin.

 Materials and Methods: Extracts  of the abovementioned plants were obtained. Rat hepatocyte membrane was selected as a sensitive system to peroxidation. In the vicinity of 1.5mmol of tert-bytyl hydroperoxide as an oxidant agent, and in presence and absence of plant extract, the amount of Malone dialdehyd (MDA), as a marker of lipid peroxidation was measured.  The amount of alanin aminotransferase  as a marker of peroxidation induced cell membrane damage was measured. LDL oxidation and   nonenzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin were measured in presence and absence of plant extract. T test was used and significance determined at p<0.0.

Results: production of MDA , GOT, and glycosylated hemoglobin was decreased by 10%, ,66% and 16%, respectively by a  dose of 2.5 microgram/ml of Cinnamon. production of MDA , GOT, and glycosylated hemoglobin was decreased by  0.34%, 21%, and 10%,  respectively by a  dose of 2.5 microgram/ml of anisum. 

 Discussion: Cinnamon  had inhibitory effects on all three oxidative systems, and may be useful in preventing atherosclerosis, diabetes and hepatic dysfunction. Anisum had no significant effects on these systems.