Wheat bran feruloyl oligosaccharides enhance the antioxidant activity of rat plasma

Wheat bran feruloyl oligosaccharides (FOs) possess in vitro antioxidative potential. The aim of this paper is to investigate the protective effect of FOs against oxidative stress in rat plasma. The levels of oxidative stress markers (oxidised glutathione and malondialdehyde) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) in plasma from rats fed with a standard diet supplemented with 1% FOs were evaluated. The anti-radical capacity of rat plasma after ingestion of 0.5 mg FOs was measured using AAPH as the free radical inducer. Compared to the control group, the antioxidant enzyme activity was higher in plasma from rats fed with FOs, and oxidised glutathione and malondialdehyde levels were lower. Plasmas of rats after ingestion of FOs were more resistant to AAPH-induced hemolysis than was the control group (P < 0.01). These results suggest that FOs enhance the level of antioxidative activity in rat plasma in vivo.