Apoptotic, antioxidant and antiradical effects of majdine and isomajdine from Vinca herbacea Waldst. and kit

In the present study, apoptotic, antioxidant and antiradical effects of majdine and isomajdine from Vinca herbacea Waldst. and Kit were studied. For testing the possible apoptotic effects of majdine and isomajdine from V. herbacea, DNA fragmentation assay was conducted on the rat brain cortical tissue homogenates, in vitro. Also their possible effects on mitochondrial activity were tested by using the same tissue samples of rats. In addition, the antioxidant activity of isomajdine and majdine was determined using various in vitro antioxidant assays, including 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS(center dot+)) radical scavenging and N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DMPD center dot+) radical scavenging, ferric ions (Fe3+) and cupric ions (Cu2+) reducing abilities and ferrous ions (Fe2+) chelating activity. On the other hand, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), alpha-tocopherol and trolox (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid) were used as reference antioxidants.