ANTIOXIDANT AND -GLUCURONIDASE INHIBITORY ACTIVITIES OF THE INTERNAL ORGAN EXTRACT FROM SEA CUCUMBER STICHOPUS JAPONICUS

Abstract

Antioxidants and -glucuronidase inhibitors have been used for treatment and prevention of
various human diseases. The study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and -glucuronidase
inhibitory activities of the aqueous methanolic extract (80% MeOH) and its solvent fractions
(n-hexane, CHCl3, EtOAc, BuOH, and water) prepared from the internal organs of sea cucumber
Stichopus japonicus. The antioxidant and -glucuronidase inhibitory properties varied between the
solvent extract and fractions. The CHCl3 fraction showed the most potent DPPH scavenging activity;
whereas, the EtOAc fraction exhibited the highest hydroxyl peroxide scavenging and lipid
peroxidation inhibitory activities. The CHCl3 and EtOAc fractions significantly inhibited
-glucuronidase. The results obtained from the present study suggested that the S. japonicus
internal organ extracts might be possible new sources of antioxidant and -glucuronidase
inhibitors suitably used for prevention of certain cardiovascular diseases and cancers.