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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Cell-free Biochemical Fluorometric Enzymatic Assay for High-throughput Measurement of Lipid Peroxidation in High Density Lipoprotein
Published on: October 12, 2017
Effects of equol on oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells
Masumi Kamiyama1, Yoshimi Kishimoto, Mariko Tani
1Food Processing Technology Division, Department of Food Technology, Nagano Prefecture General Industrial Technology Center, Nagano City, Nagano 380-0921, Japan. kamiyama-masumi-r@pref.nagano.jp
Aim:
Equol is the main active product of daidzein metabolism, produced via specific microflora in the gut. This study aimed to clarify the effects of equol on oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL)-stimulated apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
Methods:
HUVECs were cultured in the presence of OX-LDL, and cell apoptosis was monitored by evaluating of DNA fragmentation and the production of cytoplasmic histone-associated DNA fragments. We simultaneously evaluated the level of cellular superoxide and nitric oxide (NO) and the effects of the anti-oxidant activity of equol on apoptosis.
Results:
We found that equol inhibited the induction of apoptosis in response to exposure of HUVECs to OX-LDL. Treatment of cells with equol led to a significant reduction in superoxide production by NAD(P)H oxidase and also to a significant increase in NO production. We further observed an effect of equol on the suppression of OX-LDL uptake.
Conclusions:
These results suggested that equol might contribute to a reduced level of OX-LDL-stimulated apoptosis linked to the reduced generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS).
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