De-Lu Ma, Mai Chen, Chen X. Su, and Brett J. West
Deacetylasperulosidic acid (DAA) is a major phytochemical constituent of Morinda citrifolia(noni) fruit. Noni juice has demonstrated antioxidant activity in vivo and in human trials. To evaluate the role of DAA in this antioxidant activity, Wistar rats were fed 0 (control group), 15, 30, or 60mg/kg body weight per day for 7 days. Afterwards, serum malondialdehyde concentration and superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were measured and compared among groups. A dose-dependent reduction in malondialdehyde was evident as well as a dose-dependent increase in superoxide dismutase activity. DAA ingestion did not influence serum glutathione peroxidase activity. These results suggest that DAA contributes to the antioxidant activity of noni juice by increasing superoxide dismutase activity. The fact that malondialdehyde concentrations declined with increased DAA dose
Deacetylasperulosidic acid (DAA) was obtained from Chengdu Biopurify Phytochemicals Ltd. (Chengdu, China).
