Chinese yam (Dioscorea alata cv. Tainung No. 2) feeding exhibited antioxidative effects in hyperhomocysteinemia rats.

Antioxidative effects of Dioscorea alata (D. alata) were investigated in hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) induced by methionine (Met) oral feeding (1 (g/kg of BW)/day). HHcy rats were fed a standard laboratory chow supplemented without or with freeze-dried D. alata powder at 1, 2.5, and 5 (g/kg of BW)/day, assigned as Met, Met + D1, Met + D2, and Met + D3 groups, respectively. Twelve weeks after D. alata feeding, plasma homocysteine levels (16.3-24.2 microM) were significantly decreased compared to that of the Met group (34.1 +/- 9.9 microM) (p < 0.01), and similar to the basal level (15.0 +/- 1.9 microM). Thrombin-induced platelet aggregation (PA) of the Met + D2 and Met + D3 groups was significantly lower than that of the Met group. Plasma malondialdehyde levels, an indicator of lipid peroxidation, and hepatic reactive oxygen species, an indicator of oxidative stress, of HHcy with D. alata feeding were significantly lower than that without D. alata feeding. The hepatic catalase in the Met + D2 and Met + D3 groups was significantly elevated compared to that in the Met group. D. alata feeding did not significantly change hepatic superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, which were adaptively enhanced by Met feeding. The decreased glutathione/glutathione disulfide ratio in the Met group was increased after D. alata feeding. These results indicated that HHcy induced by Met could be reversed by D. alata feeding. D. alata feeding exhibited its antioxidative effects in HHcy including alleviating PA, lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress, but did not induce activity of antioxidant enzymes which had already adaptively increased by HHcy.