Enhanced radical scavenging activity by interactions between hyaluronan and antioxidants -A study of hyaluronan-containing drinks-

Abstract

Hyaluronan (HA) possesses radical scavenging properties. The low molecular weight HA (LHA)-containing drink (PL) is a dietary supplement that consists of several antioxidants in addition to LHA. The aim of this study is to characterize the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of LHA through the interactions between the components of PL in in vitro assays. Moreover, the efficacy of LHA toward oxidative stresses (ultraviolet C irradiation, oxidative DNA damage) was evaluated. LHA revealed the following hydroxyl radical-scavenging properties: 1) LHA directly scavenges hydroxyl radicals, 2) LHA activity is enhanced in the presence of other PL components, thereby enabling protection against oxidative damage to DNA, and 3) exposure to UVC-radiation temporarily attenuated the antioxidant activity of PL, which is recovered in an LHA-dependent process. These results suggest that LHA is an excellent material because its antioxidative activity is enhanced in the presence of other antioxidants, which ultimately increases resistance to oxidative stress.