Antioxidant capacity and immunoenhancing activity of Lycium barbarum protoplasm

Abstract

Objective: This study focused on the antioxidant and immune enhancing effects of L. barbarum puree. Methods: The antioxidant capacity of L. barbarum puree was measured by establishing an acute liver injury model. The immune activity of L. barbarum protoplasm was evaluated by measuring the index of immune organs, the content of serum hemolysin and the degree of plantar thickening. Results: Both low and medium doses of L. barbarum puree could significantly increase the content of glutathione peroxidase (GSH PX) in serum (P＜0.05, P＜0.01) and glutathione (GSH) in liver tissue (P＜0.05), and significantly decrease the content of protein carbonyl in liver tissue of mice with acute alcoholic liver injury (P＜0.05, P＜0.01) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) (P＜0.05, P＜0.01), and this indicate L. barbarum protoplasm had antioxidant activity. After continuous gavage of L. barbarum protoplasm for 45 days, the organ development of normal mice was not affected. Compared to the untreated mice, the content of serum hemolysin (P＜0.01) and the degree of foot thickening (P＜0.05) and phagocytosis index (P＜0.01) increased significantly, indicating that L. barbarum puree could enhance mice immunity. Conclusion: Eating a certain dose of L. barbarum puree can enhance the antioxidant capacity and immune ability.

Keywords

• lycium barbarum protoplasm
• antioxidant activity
• acute alcoholic liver injury
• immunoenhancing activity