Page 73 - Petelin, Ana, ur. 2021. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo / Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
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lysis of antioxidative potential of Helichrysum italicum and prehrana in zdravje starejših odraslih | nutrition and health of the elderly
Helichrysum arenarium
Matic Perme, Saša Kenig
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, Slovenia
Introduction. Aging is associated with a progressive decline in various phycologi-
cal functions, that can profoundly affect organism’s homeostasis. It was report-
ed that elderly often have decreased appetite, which is strongly connected to
lower intake of antioxidants and weakened resistance to oxidative stress. Hel-
ichrysum italicum (abbrev as. HI) and Helicrhysum arenarium (abbrev. as HA)
are known for high content of antioxidants and have been used for medicinal
purposes for decades. Elderly easily consume a portion of antioxidants with
fluids, therefore Helichrysum tea could be a suitable alternative to other food
sources. The purpose of this study is to evaluate antioxidative potential and
protective effects against oxidative stress of HI and HA infusions.
Methods. Dried flowers and leaves of HA and HI were used to prepare infu-
sions with 0.5 grams of dried plant material per 100 ml of boiling water. DPPH
assay was performed to measure antioxidative potential. CaCo-2, U937 and
CCD112CoN cell cultures were then treated with different infusion concen-
trations for 24 hours, and cell viability was determined. To determine the pro-
tective effects of HA and HI infusions against oxidative stress, DCFH-DA as-
say was used. Experimental work was concluded by evaluating effects of HI and
HA infusions on the expression of endogenous enzymatic antioxidants, by us-
ing RT-PCR.
Results. Maximal inhibition of DPPH free radical was seen in HI (80 ± 2 %) and
HA (73 ± 6 %), when the highest concentration of infusions were used, where-
as in lower concentrations HI was more effective. Cell viability assay revealed
that HA and HI were not cytotoxic. The highest protective effects from oxida-
tive stress were measured in U937 cell culture, where HI infusion at 5 % (v/v)
reduced ROS to 64.1 ± 1.5 %, and HA infusions at 2 % (v/v) to 88.3 ± 2.3 %.
The greatest difference in gene expression (superoxide dismutase, glutathione
reductase and catalase) was seen in primary colon cells where HI caused a
significant 2-2.5-fold upregulation of all three enzymes; HA, on the contrary,
downregulated all three genes.
Discussion and conclusion. The results of laboratory experiments confirmed that
HI and HA are good sources of antioxidants, however HI has greater antioxi-
dative potential and exhibits better protection against oxidative stress. We can
conclude that HI tea could serve as an alternative to green tea and coffee, how-
ever, further studies should be conducted to clarify the effects in vivo.
Keywords: Helichrysum, antioxidants, oxidative stress
71
Helichrysum arenarium
Matic Perme, Saša Kenig
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, Slovenia
Introduction. Aging is associated with a progressive decline in various phycologi-
cal functions, that can profoundly affect organism’s homeostasis. It was report-
ed that elderly often have decreased appetite, which is strongly connected to
lower intake of antioxidants and weakened resistance to oxidative stress. Hel-
ichrysum italicum (abbrev as. HI) and Helicrhysum arenarium (abbrev. as HA)
are known for high content of antioxidants and have been used for medicinal
purposes for decades. Elderly easily consume a portion of antioxidants with
fluids, therefore Helichrysum tea could be a suitable alternative to other food
sources. The purpose of this study is to evaluate antioxidative potential and
protective effects against oxidative stress of HI and HA infusions.
Methods. Dried flowers and leaves of HA and HI were used to prepare infu-
sions with 0.5 grams of dried plant material per 100 ml of boiling water. DPPH
assay was performed to measure antioxidative potential. CaCo-2, U937 and
CCD112CoN cell cultures were then treated with different infusion concen-
trations for 24 hours, and cell viability was determined. To determine the pro-
tective effects of HA and HI infusions against oxidative stress, DCFH-DA as-
say was used. Experimental work was concluded by evaluating effects of HI and
HA infusions on the expression of endogenous enzymatic antioxidants, by us-
ing RT-PCR.
Results. Maximal inhibition of DPPH free radical was seen in HI (80 ± 2 %) and
HA (73 ± 6 %), when the highest concentration of infusions were used, where-
as in lower concentrations HI was more effective. Cell viability assay revealed
that HA and HI were not cytotoxic. The highest protective effects from oxida-
tive stress were measured in U937 cell culture, where HI infusion at 5 % (v/v)
reduced ROS to 64.1 ± 1.5 %, and HA infusions at 2 % (v/v) to 88.3 ± 2.3 %.
The greatest difference in gene expression (superoxide dismutase, glutathione
reductase and catalase) was seen in primary colon cells where HI caused a
significant 2-2.5-fold upregulation of all three enzymes; HA, on the contrary,
downregulated all three genes.
Discussion and conclusion. The results of laboratory experiments confirmed that
HI and HA are good sources of antioxidants, however HI has greater antioxi-
dative potential and exhibits better protection against oxidative stress. We can
conclude that HI tea could serve as an alternative to green tea and coffee, how-
ever, further studies should be conducted to clarify the effects in vivo.
Keywords: Helichrysum, antioxidants, oxidative stress
71
