Abstract
Previously, we reported that bamboo culms possess a stronger antioxidative capacity than bamboo leaves in vitro. In this study, we investigated whether bamboo culm extract (BCE) supplementation ameliorates oxidative stress and hepatic nuclear factor κB (NFκB) activation in C57BL/6 mice fed an atherogenic diet. In addition, the effect of BCE supplementation on plasma lipid levels of the animals was tested. The mice were randomly assigned to a normal diet, an atherogenic diet (control), or an atherogenic diet supplemented with 1% (wt/wt) BCE or 3% (wt/wt) BCE for 16 weeks. Atherogenic diet-induced oxidative stress, measured by hepatic thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and protein carbonyls, was significantly lower in the BCE-supplemented groups than in the control (P < .05). Total antioxidative capacity was elevated in the BCE groups, along with greater activities of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, compared to the control or normal groups (P < .05). The hepatic NFκB binding activities were significantly lower in the BCE groups as well (P < .05). The high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level was significantly elevated by BCE supplementation (P < .05), whereas the effects of BCE on triglyceride and total cholesterol were inconsistent. Results from this study suggest that BCE supplementation may lessen oxidative stress via a series of changes, including a reinforced antioxidant system, and also suggest that the lowered oxidative stress status may down-regulate the activation of inflammatory mediators.