Cyanidin-3-rutinoside attenuates methylglyoxal-induced protein glycation and DNA damage via carbonyl trapping ability and scavenging reactive oxygen species

Background: Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) play a significant role in the development and progression of vascular complication in diabetes. Anthocyanin has been recently reported to possess antiglycating activity. This study aimed to determine whether a naturally occurring anthocyanin, cyanidin-3-rutinoside (C3R) inhibits methylglyoxal (MG) induced protein glycation and oxidative protein and DNA damage.

Methods: C3R (0.125-1 mM) was incubated with bovine serum albumin and MG (1 mM) for 2 weeks. The formation of fluorescent AGEs was measured by using spectrofluorometer and thiol group content were used to detect protein oxidative damage. Gel electrophoresis was used to determine whether C3R (0.125-1 mM) reduced DNA strand breakage in a glycation model comprising lysine, MG and/or Cu(2+). The generation of superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals were detected by the cytochrome c reduction assay and the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay. MG-trapping capacity was assessed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Results: C3R (0.25-1 mM) reduced the formation of fluorescent AGEs and depleted protein thiol groups in bovine serum albumin mediated by MG. At 1 mM C3R inhibited oxidative DNA damage in the glycation model (p < 0.05) and at 0.5-1 mM prevented Cu(2+) induced DNA strand breakage in the presence of lysine and MG. The findings showed that C3R reduced the formation of superoxide anion and hydroxyl radicals during the glycation reaction of MG with lysine. C3R directly trapped MG in a concentration and time dependent manner (both p < 0.001).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that C3R protects against MG-induced protein glycation and oxidative damage to protein and DNA by scavenging free radicals and trapping MG.