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The present study investigated the anti-oxidative and hepatoprotective effects of Glossogyne tenuifolia (GT) Cassini, against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in BALB/c mice. The extracts of GT by various solvents (hot water, 50% ethanol and 95% ethanol) were compared for their 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, reducing power, total phenolic content, and total anti-oxidant capacity. The results showed that hot water (HW) extracts of GT contained high levels of phenolics and exerted an excellent anti-oxidative capacity; thus, these were used in the animal experiment. The male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, acetaminophen (APAP) group, positive control group and two GT groups at low (GT-L) and high (GT-H) dosages. The results showed that mice treated with GT had significantly decreased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). GT-H increased glutathione levels and the ratios of reduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) in the liver, and inhibited serum and lipid peroxidation. This experiment was the first to determine phenolic compounds, chlorogenic acid and luteolin-7-glucoside in HW extract of GT. In conclusion, HW extract of GT may have potential anti-oxidant capacity and show hepatoprotective capacities in APAP-induced liver damaged mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in grapes, has been shown to partially exert its anti-cancer function through the modulation of epigenetic events. However, the epigenetic targets of resveratrol in breast cancer are not yet fully understood. Here, we identified that the gene encoding the histone H2B ubiquitin ligase RNF20 (ring finger protein 20), a chromatin modifying enzyme and putative tumour suppressor, is up-regulated by resveratrol in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Up-regulation of RNF20 is achieved through an increase of active histone marks around its promoter. The increase in RNF20 in MDA-MB-231 likely contributes to p21 regulation and the anti-growth effects of resveratrol, as RNF20 knockdown diminished these effects. Our findings suggest that RNF20 is a novel epigenetic target of resveratrol, and increase our understanding of how it contributes to the chemopreventive effect of resveratrol in a more aggressive breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]