Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan extract protects against CCl sub(4)-induced oxidative stress

This study was performed to elucidate the effects of Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan extract (UPFE) in preventing CCl sub(4)-induced oxidative stress. UPFE (100 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered to rats for 14 days. On day 15, CCl sub(4) dissolved in olive oil (50% CCl sub(4)) was injected 12 h before they were anesthetized and dissected. To measure UPFE-mediated antioxidation, we examined the levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver homogenates. CCl sub(4) treatment markedly increased the levels of GOT, GPT, ALP, LDH, and MDA and significantly decreased levels of SOD, CAT, and GPx. UPFE pretreatment decreased levels of GOT, GPT, ALP, LDH, and MDA, by 62.8, 68.5, 41.9, 72.7, and 122%, respectively and increased those of SOD, CAT, and GPx by 111.1, 15.9, and 52.6%, respectively. These results showed that UPFE has antioxidant effects against CCl sub(4)-induced oxidative stress.