ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTS ON VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL CELLS
INDUCED BY ACTIVE COMPONENTS OF PUNICA GRANATUM AND
AMARANTHUS SP. EXTRACTS
CRISTINA DIȚESCU 1, NARCISA BĂBEANU 1, LAURA OLARIU 2,3, BRÎNDUȘA DUMITRIU 2*, RALUCA PAPACOCEA 4, OVIDIU POPA 1, BRUNO ȘTEFAN VELESCU 4
1University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Mărăști Boulevard, 011464, Bucharest,
Romania
2S.C. Biotehnos S.A., 3-5 Gorunului Street, 075100, Otopeni, Ilfov, Romania
3Academy of Romanian Scientists, 54 Splaiul Independenței Street, 050094, Bucharest, Romania
4“Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 37 Dionisie Lupu Street, 020021, Bucharest, Romania
*corresponding author: dbrandusa@biotehnos.com
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Abstract:
The intrinsic oxidative metabolism generates reactive oxygen species contributing to enzymatic modulation and signalling
cascades. They interfere with pathological phenomena by the imbalance between endogenous antioxidant activity and
extrinsic oxidative stress. Natural antioxidants are counteracting this imbalance, proving high value in preventive or
complementary therapies of some serious diseases: atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, neurodegeneration. This study is
focused on the evaluation at vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) level of the intracellular glutathione as an activating factor of
the intrinsic antioxidant system, as well as some reactive oxygen species (hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion),
oxidative stress generators. It has been investigated the cytotoxicity of pomegranate and amaranth extracts obtained through
original biotechnology, as well as their ability to modulate these mechanisms. The results of applied flow cytometry
techniques demonstrate the inhibition of reactive oxygen species by pomegranate atomized extract and the stimulation of
intracellular glutathione by squalene from amaranth. As a consequence, it has been suggested the association of both extracts
in order to achieve a two directions, concerted action in counteracting the cellular oxidative stress.

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