ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTS ON VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL CELLS INDUCED BY ACTIVE COMPONENTS OF PUNICA GRANATUM AND AMARANTHUS SP. EXTRACTS

The intrinsic oxidative metabolism generates reactive oxygen species contributing to enzymatic modulation and signalling cascades. They interfere with pathological phenomena by the imbalance between endogenous antioxidant activity and extrinsic oxidative stress. Natural antioxidants are counteracting this imbalance, proving high value in preventive or complementary therapies of some serious diseases: atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, neurodegeneration. This study is focused on the evaluation at vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) level of the intracellular glutathione as an activating factor of the intrinsic antioxidant system, as well as some reactive oxygen species (hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion), oxidative stress generators. It has been investigated the cytotoxicity of pomegranate and amaranth extracts obtained through original biotechnology, as well as their ability to modulate these mechanisms. The results of applied flow cytometry techniques demonstrate the inhibition of reactive oxygen species by pomegranate atomized extract and the stimulation of intracellular glutathione by squalene from amaranth. As a consequence, it has been suggested the association of both extracts in order to achieve a two directions, concerted action in counteracting the cellular oxidative stress.