Antioxidative Phytochemicals and Biomarkers

TOSHIHIKO OSAWA

Department of Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Psychological and Physical Science, Aichi Gakuin University, 12 Araike Iwasaki-cho, Nisshin, Aichi 470-0195, Japan

ABSTRACT

Lipid peroxidation is known to be a free chain reaction which takes place both in vivo and in vitro, and forms lipid hydroperoxides and secondary products. These lipid peroxidation products are highly reactive and have been shown to interact with many biological components such as proteins, amino acids, amines, phospholipids and DNAs. As novel biomarkers for early stage of lipid peroxidation process, we have developed monoclonal antibodies specific to oxidatively modified lysines with linoleic acid-, arachidonic acid- eicosapentanoic acid- and docosahexaenoic acid-hydroperoxides. We have also succeeded in construction of novel biomarkers specific to overproduction of oxidative stress during inflammation process. Recently, we found more potent antioxidative phytochemicals such as sesame lignans, astaxanthin and curcuminoids, especially, tetrahydrocurcumin , one of the main metabolites and also produced by fermentation of yeast (D. hansenil) of curcumin. We have also succeeded in determining many functional activities including extention of ageing process.

Key words: oxidativw stress, lipid hydroperoxide, inflammation, sesame lignans, astaxanthin, curcumin, tetrahydrocurcumin