As ㄅ and ㄆ have been related to mechanisms against oxidative stress, we then addressed the question whether these substances have an effect on the main secondary anti-oxidant mechanism of the cell, the proteasome. Young HFL-1 cells were treated with 2 μg/ml ㄅ, 0.5, 2 and 5 μg/ml ㄆ or the diluents (0.1% DMSO or 0.1% CAP) for 24 h and the CT-L proteasome activity was measured. The activity was significantly induced following cell treatment with either of the substances. CT-L activity was increased from ~1.5 (for ㄆ) to ~2.4 folds (for ㄅ). Moreover we have also detected enhanced protein expression levels of representative proteasome subunits in the same cells and experimental conditions, thus further verifying proteasome activation by ㄅ and ㄆ