Antioxidant activities of protein-enriched fraction from the larvae of housefly, Musca domestica

The protein-enriched fraction (PEF) was isolated and purified from the larvae of housefly, Musca domestica. This study was designed to investigate amino acid compositions, antioxidative effects and protective effects of PEF on red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis, lipid peroxidation. The effects of PEF treatment were studied on aged mice liver lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities, which included superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Results: PEF not only inhibited H(2)O(2) stimulated oxidative hemolysis of erythrocytes of mice, but also depressed malondialdehyde (MDA) production in mice liver homogenate by auto-oxidation and hepatic mitochondria expanded induced by Fe(2+)-ascorbic acid system. Compared to control group, treatments of PEF significantly increases SOD and GSH-Px activity of serum and liver homogenate in aged mice. MDA level of serum and liver homogenate decreased significantly in aged mice. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that PEF possesses antioxidative activity and might be a valuable source of natural antioxidative agents.