In Vitro and In Vivo Protective Effects of Agaro-Oligosaccharides against Hydrogen Peroxide-Stimulated Oxidative...

In our previous research, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of the agaro-oligosaccharides prepared from the agar of Gracilaria lemaneiformis (AO). In the present study, in order to further explore the bioactivities of AO, the antioxidant activity of AO was investigated in vitro in Vero cells and in vivo in zebrafish. AO scavenged alkyl, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, and hydroxyl radicals at the IC₅₀ value of 4.86 ± 0.13, 3.02 ± 0.44, and 1.33 ± 0.05 mg/mL, respectively. AO significantly suppressed hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-stimulated oxidative damage by improving cell viability. This happened via suppressing apoptosis by scavenging intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, the in vivo results displayed that AO protected zebrafish against H₂O₂-stimulated oxidative damage by reducing the levels of intracellular ROS, cell death, and lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that AO effectively alleviated in vitro and in vivo oxidative damage stimulated by H₂O₂, and suggest the potential of AO in the cosmetic and functional food industries.