can augment diabetes treatment as well as improve other risk factors for complications related to diabetes (Asp et al. 2011).
17.4.6 Anti-Oxidant Activity
The antioxidant can be defined as any substance that can significantly delay or
prevent the oxidation of an oxidize-able substrate instead of being present at a low
concentration compared to that of the substrate. Antioxidants are of great importance
as they help in protecting the human body against damage by reactive free radicals
generated in Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis, the ageing process, cancer, ischemic heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Apart from synthetic compounds, natural
products and their derivatives possess effective antioxidative properties hence
imparting anticancer, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic properties
to these compounds (Koyama et al. 2006)
A sufficient number of antioxidants have been reported in safflower seeds.
Matairesinol, 8 hydroxyarctigenin (lignans), acacetin and acacetin 7-O-glucoside
(flavones), feruloylserotonin, and N-p-coumaroyl (serotonin derivatives) have been
isolated from safflower seeds showing strong antioxidant activity in vitro (Kang
et al. 1999; Kim et al. 2007). Ethanol-ethyl acetate extracts of safflower seeds have
been reported to inhibit low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation induced in vitro by
copper ions. Major phenolic and active constituents of the extract were found to be
serotonin derivatives (Fig. 17.2), N-feruloylserotonin and N-( p-coumaroyl) serotonin and their glucoside derivatives. These serotonin derivatives were reported to be
absorbed into the blood circulation and prevent the atherosclerotic lesion development by inhibiting the formation of oxidized LDL because of their strong
antioxidative activity (Koyama et al. 2006).
Furthermore, serotonin derivatives have been shown to exhibit stronger radical
scavenging and lipid peroxidation activities as compared to α-tocopherol, acacetin,
and matairesinol (Kang et al. 1999). Seven antioxidant serotonin derivatives have
been isolated from safflower seed meal or cake, and have exhibited comparatively
strong antioxidant activities when tested by ferric thiocyanate and α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays (Zhang et al. 1997). Similarly, the
serotonin derivative, N-p-coumaroyl serotonin has been shown to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action for fibroblasts and also helps in cell proliferation
in fibroblast (Takii et al. 1999).
17.4.7 Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Inflammation is a type of immune response and serves as a vital mechanism in host
defenses against external damage, infections, or harmful physical or chemical
17 Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) Seed
437
17.4.6 Anti-Oxidant Activity
The antioxidant can be defined as any substance that can significantly delay or
prevent the oxidation of an oxidize-able substrate instead of being present at a low
concentration compared to that of the substrate. Antioxidants are of great importance
as they help in protecting the human body against damage by reactive free radicals
generated in Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis, the ageing process, cancer, ischemic heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Apart from synthetic compounds, natural
products and their derivatives possess effective antioxidative properties hence
imparting anticancer, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic properties
to these compounds (Koyama et al. 2006)
A sufficient number of antioxidants have been reported in safflower seeds.
Matairesinol, 8 hydroxyarctigenin (lignans), acacetin and acacetin 7-O-glucoside
(flavones), feruloylserotonin, and N-p-coumaroyl (serotonin derivatives) have been
isolated from safflower seeds showing strong antioxidant activity in vitro (Kang
et al. 1999; Kim et al. 2007). Ethanol-ethyl acetate extracts of safflower seeds have
been reported to inhibit low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation induced in vitro by
copper ions. Major phenolic and active constituents of the extract were found to be
serotonin derivatives (Fig. 17.2), N-feruloylserotonin and N-( p-coumaroyl) serotonin and their glucoside derivatives. These serotonin derivatives were reported to be
absorbed into the blood circulation and prevent the atherosclerotic lesion development by inhibiting the formation of oxidized LDL because of their strong
antioxidative activity (Koyama et al. 2006).
Furthermore, serotonin derivatives have been shown to exhibit stronger radical
scavenging and lipid peroxidation activities as compared to α-tocopherol, acacetin,
and matairesinol (Kang et al. 1999). Seven antioxidant serotonin derivatives have
been isolated from safflower seed meal or cake, and have exhibited comparatively
strong antioxidant activities when tested by ferric thiocyanate and α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays (Zhang et al. 1997). Similarly, the
serotonin derivative, N-p-coumaroyl serotonin has been shown to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action for fibroblasts and also helps in cell proliferation
in fibroblast (Takii et al. 1999).
17.4.7 Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Inflammation is a type of immune response and serves as a vital mechanism in host
defenses against external damage, infections, or harmful physical or chemical
17 Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) Seed
437