Vitex agnus-castus L. (Verbenaceae) Improves the Liver Lipid Metabolism and Redox State of Ovariectomized Rats

Figure 4

Mitochondrial and peroxisomal capacity to oxidize fatty acids. The liver mitochondrial β-oxidation capacity (panel (a)) was determined polarographically in the presence of 100 μM 2,4-DNP. Mitochondria (0.6–1.0 mg/mL) were incubated in a total volume of 2.0 mL. Reactions were initiated by the addition of the following: 20 μM octanoyl-CoA + 2.0 mM L-carnitine (Oct-CoA), 20 μM palmitoyl-CoA + 2.0 mM L-carnitine (Palm-CoA), or 20 μM palmitoyl-L-carnitine (Palm-L-Carn). The peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA oxidase activity (panel (b)) from control, OVX, OVX + CE, and OVX + ButF rats were measured via fluorimetry (excitation, 503 nm; emission, 529 nm) based on the oxidation of DCFH-DA by H₂O₂ into DCF in a reaction catalyzed by exogenous peroxidase. The reactions were initiated by the addition of 30 μM palmitoyl-CoA (palm-CoA). The values are expressed as the means of 6–10 individual experiments with different mitochondrial and peroxisomal preparations. The vertical bars represent the standard errors and statistical significance was evaluated using ANOVA ().

(a)

(b)