Studies on the antioxidant properties of Tualang honey of Malaysia

Neuronal excitation, involving the excitatory glutamate receptors, is recognized as an important underlying mechanism in neurodegenerative disorders. To understand their role in excitotoxicity, the nitric oxide synthase (NOS), argininosuccinate synthetase (AS), argininosuccinate lyase (AL), glutamine synthetase (GS), and arginase activities, along with the concentration of nitrate/nitrite, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and total antioxidant status (TAS), were estimated in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and brain stem of rats subjected to kainic acid-mediated excitotoxicity. The results of this study clearly demonstrated the increased production of NO by increased activity of NOS. The increased activities of AS and AL suggest the increased and effective recycling of citrulline to arginine in excitotoxicity, making NO production more effective and contributing to its toxic effects. The decreased activity of GS may favor the prolonged availability of glutamic acid, causing excitotoxicity, leading to neuronal damage. The increased formation of TBARS and decreased TAS indicate the presence of oxidative stress in excitotoxicity.

Nitric oxide is postulated to be involved in the pathophysiology of neurological disorders due to hypoxia/ anoxia in brain due to increased release of glutamate and activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in pathophysiology of many neurological disorders and in brain function. To understand their role in anoxia (hypobaric hypoxia) and reperfusion (reoxygenation), the nitric oxide synthase, argininosuccinate synthetase, argininosuccinate lyase, glutamine synthetase and arginase activities along with the concentration of nitrate /nitrite, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and total antioxidant status were estimated in cerebral cortex, cerebellum and brain stem of rats subjected to anoxia and reperfusion. The results of this study clearly demonstrated the increased production of nitric oxide by increased activity of nitric oxide synthase. The increased activities of argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase suggest the increased and effective recycling of citrulline to arginine in anoxia, making nitric oxide production more effective and contributing to its toxic effects. The decreased activity of glutamine synthetase may favor the prolonged availability of glutamic acid causing excitotoxicity leading to neuronal damage in anoxia. The increased formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and decreased total antioxidant status indicate the presence of oxidative stress in anoxia and reperfusion. The increased arginase and sustained decrease of GS activity in reperfusion group likely to be protective.