Devil's Club Demonstrates Anti-Oxidative and Anti Proliferative Activity In Vitro

By Kyle J. Norton

Antioxidative activity refers to the process in the inhibition of the oxidation of proteins, lipids, DNA or other free radicals in the induction of oxidative chain reactions.

The primary antioxidants which directly scavenge free radicals are free radical scavengers.
Antioxidants are stable atom that plays a critical role in protecting the body against the attack of free radicals.

In other words, antioxidants inhibited the onset of free radical before they can cause a chain reaction in facilitating the protein, lipid and cell damage.

Antioxidants can either produced by the liver or intake from dietary sources. Under normal conditions, antioxidant enzymes produced by the body in a healthy individual are good enough to counter the bombardment of free radical attacks.

However, in people with a weakened immune system, intake dietary sources of antioxidants may be necessary.

Oxidative stress is a result of an imbalance of the ratio of free radicals and antioxidants in the body.

Free radicals are highly reactive molecules with an unpaired electron on the outer ring of the atom.
Due to its nature to become stable, free radicals readily to donate or steal an electron from other molecules, leading to the chain of domino's effect that can not be stopped until either the electrons are paired or inhibited by antioxidants.

This chain of reaction is the cause of oxidative stress, a condition is associated with either overexpression of free radicals or depletion of antioxidant enzymes produced by the host organs.

Diseases associated with oxidative stress are many chronic health problems such as cardiovascular and inflammatory disease, cataracts, and cancer.

Devil's Club is a large shrub, genus Oplopanax, belonging to the family Aralioideae, native to the cool moist forests of western North America. 

The herb has been used in traditional and herbal medicine as Adaptogen, Antipyretic, Pain Reliever, Antitussive, Antibacterial agent and to treat Arthritis, Diabetes, Colds, Cough, Sore throat, Chest congestion, Stomach pain, Constipation, Gall stones, Influenza, Cancer, etc.

On finding a potential compound against the onset of oxidative stress, researchers examined the anti-proliferative activity on Devil's Club, Oplopanax horridus (OH).

According to the tested analysis,
* OH extract inhibited K562, HL60, MCF7 and MDA-MB-468 cell growth with the 50% inhibition (IC(50)) estimated at 1/2700, 1/1700, 1/500 and 1/2500 dilutions.

* The combination of OH extract at 1/4000 and 1/16,000 dilutions with 0.1 microM of CAM produced additive, anti-proliferative effects on K562 cells, as did 1/2000 and 1/1000 dilutions of OH combined with 2.5 nM of PTX on MCF7, and 1/4000 dilution of OH with 1 nM of PTX on MDA-MB-468 cells.

* A combination of 1/8000 and 1/4000 dilution of OH with 0.05 microM of CAM showed strong synergistic anti-proliferative effects on HL60 cells.

* A cell-free hydroxyl radical scavenging assay estimated that OH at 1/100, 1/10 and 1/5 dilutions showed activities equivalent to 2.7, 15.7 and 25.6 microM of Trolox, respectively.

* At non-cytotoxic 1/4000 and 1/2000 dilutions, OH significantly reduced nitric oxide production by lipopolysaccharide activated RAW 264.7 cells (p<0.001).

Taken altogether, Devil's Club may be considered an antioxidative stress remedy, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

Natural Medicine for Fatty Liver And Obesity Reversal - The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve Optimal Health And Lose Weight

How To Get Rid Of Eye Floaters 
Contrary To Professionals Prediction, Floaters Can Be Cured Naturally 

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You. How-To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

Back to Kyle J. Norton Homepage http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca


Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.

Sources
(1) In vitro anti-proliferative and antioxidant studies on Devil's Club Oplopanax horridus by Tai J1, Cheung S, Cheah S, Chan E, Hasman D. (PubMed)