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Comparative evaluation of the antioxidant effects of the natural vitamin C analog 2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid isolated from Goji berry fruit

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Abstract

2-O-β-D-Glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2βG) is a natural derivative of vitamin C (Lascorbic acid, AA) isolated from Goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) fruit. We evaluated the antioxidant activities of AA-2βG and AA using in vitro and in vivo model systems. In vitro radical scavenging assays demonstrated that AA-βG was capable of scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl and hydroxyl peroxide and inhibiting H2O2-induced hemolysis better than AA. AA-2βG and AA had similar hydroxyl radical scavenging capabilities, but AA-2βG was incapable of scavenging superoxide anion radicals, and its capacity to scavenge nitrite (NO2 −) was lower than that of AA. The overall in vitro reduction capability of AA-2βG was also significantly lower than that of AA. Moreover, in vivo studies demonstrated that AA-2βG was capable of protecting the liver against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in mice. These results suggest that AA-2βG is an important antioxidant component of Goji berry fruit, which may share similar but distinct antioxidant mechanistic properties with AA. This study furthers our understanding of the mechanisms of Goji berry fruit pharmacological activities on antiaging and antitumor properties as a traditional medicine and dietary supplement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Science, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, 750021, China

    Ziping Zhang, Xiaoming Liu, Xu Zhang, Junhong Liu, Yanfang Hao, Xueyun Yang & Yujiong Wang

  2. Key Laboratory of Chinese Ministry of Education for Conservation and Utilization of Special Biological Resources in the Western, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, 750021, China

    Ziping Zhang, Xiaoming Liu & Yujiong Wang

  3. College of Life Science, Ningxia University, 539 W. Helanshan Road, Yinchuan, Ningxia, 750021, China

    Yujiong Wang

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  1. Ziping Zhang
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  2. Xiaoming Liu
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  3. Xu Zhang
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Correspondence to Yujiong Wang.

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Zhang, Z., Liu, X., Zhang, X. et al. Comparative evaluation of the antioxidant effects of the natural vitamin C analog 2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid isolated from Goji berry fruit. Arch. Pharm. Res. 34, 801–810 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-011-0514-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-011-0514-4

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