In order to investigate the effects of 70% EtOH extract obtained from Hovenia dulcis Thunberg on enzymes relating reactive oxygen intermediate, cancer-stricken animals induced by DEN (N, N diethylnitrosamine) were recovered by administering the extract of Hovenia dulcis Thunberg. It showed that there was no effect on the generation of superoxide radical by the extract of Hovenia dulcis Thunberg. However, considering the increase of the activity of Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD in the tested animal class, the extract of Hovenia dulcis Thunberg could participate directly in removing of superoxides. The experimented-animals treated with the extract of Hovenia dulcis Thunberg showed an increase in the activity of the enzymes, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, which can eliminate hydrogen peroxide pertained in liver tissue. The extract of Hovenia dulcis Thunberg seemed to have some factors that accelerate the oxidation. Also, the extract of Hovenia dulcis Thunberg showed effects on the enzymes relating to the active oxygen toxicity which could be an indicator of aging and body toxicity.

The electron transport chain (ETC) delivers electrons from many substrates to reduce molecular oxygen to water. ETC accomplishes the stepwise transfer of electrons through series of protein complexes conferring oxidation‐reduction reactions with concomitant transport of p roton across membrane, g enerating a proton g radient which leads ATP s ynthesis b y F0F1ATPase. Bacterial ETC initiates with oxidation of NADH by NADH dehydrogenase complex (complex I). Therefore, damage of complex I leads to insufficient function of ETC and accumulation of NADH inside the cell. Contribution of ETC activity and its consequent changes of NADH levels to bacterial damage response against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) has been poorly understood. In this study, by constructing ndh mutant Salmonella lacking complex I NADH dehydrogenase 2, we evaluated the effect of ETC deficiency to bacterial resistance against ROS and RNS. The growth of ndh mutant Salmonella is impaired in the culture media containing hydrogen peroxide, but rather accelerates in the media containing nitric oxide donors. Data suggest that redox potential of NADH accumulated inside the cell by ETC blockage may affect inversely to bacterial resistance against reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species.

Intracellular pathogens must maintain redox homeostasis against the antimicrobial actions of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species produced by host cells. This study proves that glutathione is required to promote survival of an enteric pathogen Salmonella under the conditions producing reactive oxygen or nitrogen species. Glutathione is the non-protein thiol compound distributed in a variety of organisms and possesses strong electron-donating capability to reduce intracellular redox environment. To examine the role of glutathione on Salmonella redox homeostasis under oxidative and nitrosative stress conditions, gshB gene encoding glutathione synthetase was mutated by the one-step PCR inactivation method. The growth of gshB mutant Salmonella producing virtually no glutathione was greatly impaired in the culture media containing either hydrogen peroxide or nitric oxide donors. The results suggest that physiological levels of glutathione can provide a fundamental capability to maintain redox homeostasis for Salmonella in surviving oxidizing conditions of host cells.