BUKU ABSTRAK - Universiti Putra Malaysia

Food
Gamma-oryzanol Rich Fraction Regulates the Expression of Antioxidant and
Oxidative Stress Related Genes in Strenuous Exercise
Prof. Dr. Maznah Ismail
Wan Abd. Aziz Mamat and Zalinah Ahmad
Institute of Bioscience, University Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
+603-8947 2115; maznahis@medic.upm.edu.my
Physical exercise is known to have many health benefits. However there is strong evidence suggesting that
strenuous exercise may cause oxidative stress due to generation of reactive oxygen species. Supplementation
of natural antioxidant compounds has been recommended to attenuate oxidative stress-induced pathogenesis
of diseases and strenuous exercise. Gamma-oryzanol (OR), a phytosterol ferulate mixture extracted from rice
bran oil, has a wide spectrum of biological activities in particular, it has antioxidant properties which may help
in reducing oxidative stress. Therefore, in this study, the regulatory effect of gamma-oryzanol rich fraction
(ORF) extracted and fractionated from rice bran using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) in comparison with
commercially available OR on 14 antioxidant and oxidative stress related genes was determined in strenuous
exercise. Rats were subjected to a swimming exercise program for 10 weeks to induce stress and were further
treated with either ORF at 125, 250, 500 mg/kg or OR at 100 mg/kg in emulsion forms for the last five weeks
of the swimming program being carried out. The GenomeLab Genetic Analysis System (GeXPS) was used to
study the multiplex gene expression of the selected genes. Gamma-oryzanol rich fraction does show potential
antioxidant activity greater than OR in the regulation of antioxidants and oxidative stress gene markers.
Keywords: Gamma-oryzanol, antioxidant, oxidative stress, strenuous exercise, gene expression
Vanillin: A Novel Non-toxic Anti-colorectal Cancer Agent used in Food Flavoring
Industry
Prof. Dr. Maznah Ismail
Ho Ket Li
Institute of Bioscience, University Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
+603-8947 2115; maznahis@medic.upm.edu.my
Vanillin is a widely used flavoring agent responsible for the smell and flavor of vanilla. Besides its primary
usage as a flavoring agent, vanillin is also famous for its medically favorable properties such as anti-bacteria, antisickle
cell anemia and anti-mutagenic properties. Due to its good anti-mutagenic effect, it is logical to propose
that vanillin also could prevent or treat cancer because cancer is a disease closely related to mutation. Hence, this
study investigated the anti-cancer properties of vanillin against HT-29, a human colorectal cancer cell line. Results
showed that vanillin could kill and prevent the growth of HT-29 cells and thus making it a useful colorectal cancer
preventive agent. However, literature also reported that vanillin must be administered in high concentration in
un-oxidized form to be functional in-vivo. Hence, we assessed the toxic effect of vanillin when administered unoxidized
at high concentration (150mg/kg and 300mg/kg) via oral and intra-peritoneal injection. After 14 weeks
of vanillin (dissolved in 5% ethanol) treatment, the blood and brain of rats were tested for sign of toxic effect.
Results show that vanillin was not toxic to kidney, liver, blood cells and brain. Surprisingly, apart from being nontoxic,
the results also showed that vanillin could provide protective properties to brain. This suggests that vanillin
might be useful in preventing brain related disease for example Alzheimer disease. In conclusion, vanillin could
be useful in cancer prevention, cancer treatment and neuro-protection while being non-toxic when administered
in high concentration via both oral and intra-peritoneal injection.
Keywords: Vanillin, HT-29, cytolytic, cytostatic, toxic
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